Regardless of where it is made - from the Azores to the remote northern province of Trás-os-Montes - goods from all over the country end up in Lisbon stores. But if you are going to a particular province, try to buy locally, where prices are usually about 20% lower than those in Lisbon. A general exception is the legendary   handcrafted  embroidery of Madeira; Prices are practically the same as in Lisbon.

Cork products   ranging from carpets to cigarettes are good buys. Collectors seek  decorative tiles. You can also find good shopping in Lisbon in  china  and  porcelain,  in  sweaters  of  the fishermen north and  fado recordings.

 Intricately woven lightweight  baskets make attractive and practical gifts. It is better to buy   handmade  lace in Vila do Conde, outside Porto, where you buy better; many shops in Lisbon also carry the rents.

Pottery  is one of the best buys in Portugal, and Barceloss brightly colored rooster pottery is legendary. In fact, the rooster has become the virtual symbol of Portugal. Blue and white ceramics are made in Coimbra and often in Alcobaça. Our favorite articles come from Caldas da Rainha. They include yellow and green dishes in the form of vegetables (especially cabbage), fruits, animals and even leaves. Vila Real is known for its black pottery and Aceiro is known for its polychrome pottery. Some red clay pots from the southeastern Alentejo region are based on designs dating back to the Etruscans. Crystal Atlantis  is another good buy. Suede  and Leather,  as in Spain, are also good purchases. In the Algarve, beautiful lanterns, fire screens  and even  outdoor furniture  are made of metal - mostly copper, brass and tin.

The best buy in Portugal,  gold,  is strictly regulated by the government. Jewelers should put at least 19.2 carats on the jewelry they sell.  Gold and silver filigree jewelry is popular in Lisbon and other places in Portugal. The art of ornamental openwork made of fine gold or silver thread dates back to ancient times. The most expensive items - often dart objets - are made of 19/4-karat gold. Filigree is often used in caravel representations. Less expensive baubles are usually made of silver, sometimes dipped in 24 carat gold.

Portugal is also famous for the  Arraiolos  rugs , fine wool rugs that have gained international fame. You can visit the small town of Arraiolos in the Alentejo. According to legend, Moorish artisans expelled from Lisbon in the early 16th century first made the carpets. Patterns were said to mimic Persian designs. Some Arraiolos rugs eventually enter the museums.

Shipping Tips

Many stores in Portugal will crate and carry bulky objects. Any especially large item, such as a piece of furniture, must be shipped. All antique dealers in Lisbon have lists of reputable shipping companies. For most small and midsize shipments, air freight is not much more expensive than shipping items by ship. TAP, the Portuguese airline, has a toll free telephone number (tel.  800 / 221-78-90  ). Once in Lisbon, you can contact TAP to arrange air travel arrangements for larger purchases by calling the Lisbon cargo offices at tel. 21 / 841-63-36. It is open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 6:30 pm.

Remember that all of your air cargo shipments will need to go out of customs in the United States, Canada, or your home country. This involves some additional documentation and perhaps a trip to the airport near where you live. It is usually best to hire a commercial customs broker to do the work for you.

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