Gallery Vittorio Emanuele II (Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II) - one of the oldest shopping arcades in the world, which the locals call simply "the living room of Milan". Located in the heart of the city, this shopping arcade connects the two most beautiful squares of the "fashion capital" - the square in front of the Duomo cathedral and the square in front of the La Scala theater.
The gallery bears the name of King Vittorio Emmanuele II (or Victor Emmanuel), and it was built in 1865-1877 gg .under the project of the architect Giuseppe Mengoni, who, alas, did not live to see the end of the works - fell from the scaffolding and died .However, his work was not in vain - today the Gallery of Vittorio Emanuele II is considered one of the main attractions of the city, and not only thanks to the shops and restaurants located in it .The passage has a surprisingly harmonious architectural form of the Latin cross with an octagonal center .Its main highlight is glass roofs and a giant 47-meter dome in the middle .Decorated with mosaics depicting four continents (except Australia), the gallery can be called a truly architectural gem of the capital of Lombardy .Inside - bright murals, graceful sculptures, fancy stucco molding and mosaic floor with the arms of Milan, Turin, Rome and Florence .
Having enjoyed the architectural wonders of the gallery of Vittorio Emanuele II, it's worth to satisfy your desperate desires, plunged into a fabulous shopping. In the "living room of Milan" are the most expensive boutiques of the city, they say, even the legendary "Golden quadrangle" of the capital of Lombardy, this trade arcade is not a competitor. In particular - the world's first boutique Prada, which is located strictly in the center of the gallery, under the dome. And also Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana and other iconic Italian brands.
Charter, you can rest in one of the bars or eat a full meal in the first-class restaurants of the gallery. Michelin stars, high cuisine, cooks of extra class - a feature of almost all local institutions.
And in the arcade of Vittorio Emanuele, the seven-star hotel Town House Seven Stars Galleria is open, the cost of the night starts from an impressive 5,000 EUR. By the way, to spend the night in the gallery (or at least wander at night) can be much cheaper: the shopping arcade is open around the clock, and even when the shops are closed, and life in the city ceases, a quiet echo of footsteps comes from Vittorio Emanuele II, rarely visited by curious tourists.
Address: Piazza del Duomo.
Opening hours: The gallery is open 24 hours, shops from 10:00 to 22:00.