traveldk.com

Agost’s long ceramic-making tradition dates back for centuries, and dozens of shops sell the earthenware water jars (botijos ) typical of the region, along with a range of ceramic items from pots to platters.

The ultimate one-stop shopping destination, Alicante has the biggest department stores, plus plenty of large high-street chain shops, all lined up along the Avenida Maisonnave.

Elda is a big, industrial city, and one of the largest shoemaking centres in Spain. Numerous factory outlets on the outskirts of the town offer excellent shoe bargains.

El Pinós is one of the best-known wine towns in the Alicante region, but it’s also justly famous for its embutidos – cured hams and sausages made with locally reared livestock and prepared to traditional recipes.

Crevillent has dozens of workshops and factories offering the luxurious and colourful rugs and carpets for which it is renowned throughout Spain. Other local crafts include glass-ware and wickerwork.

Come around Easter to see Elx’s famous and elaborate palm crosses being made for the Easter Sunday parades (see Hort del Cura, Elx (Elche)). At any time of year, dozens of shops sell fresh dates and delicious date sweets and cakes.

Santa Pola’s traditional souvenirs are objects made from seashells – a fashion which you may have thought died out in the 1970s. These run the gamut from the kitsch to the surprisingly pretty.

Torrevieja is edged with two enormous salt lakes, and its pale pyramids of gleaming salt make a curious sight. In town, souvenir shops sell unusual carved boats made entirely from salt.

Novelda (see Casa-Museo Modernista, Novelda), is most famous for its marble, but if that proves difficult to pack, you could pick up some locally grown golden saffron to flavour your own paellas (see Paella) instead.

The cheerful wine town of Monóvar produces an excellent, robust red wine, as well as rosés, but it is best known for the wonderful dessert wine El Fondillón.