Ferretería Puerta Carmona, Seville

What to buy here: Ironworks – The streets of Sevilla boast lovely ironworks in the form of lamps, railings and even manhole covers, and iron is to the city of Seville as neon is to Las Vegas. The ornate pieces in the form of hooks, drawer pulls, kings and even statuets make wonderful, lasting souvenirs. The Spaniards buy all of their hardware needs at stores called ferreterías, and the selection of Ferretería Puerta Carmona has a reputation for being the biggest and best. In the small, cramped space, men pull out drawers filled with nails and hooks, and the walls have ironworks – often called reja – mounted all the way up to the ceiling. Ask to see the other warehouses, which showcase beautiful pieces that they’re willing to send back home for you. Price: varies depending on product. A brass knocker is 17€ and up, for example.