Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is a covered shopping arcade named after Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of Italy following its unification. It is situated in a prominent location on the northern side of Piazza del Duomo in Milan and connects to Piazza della Scala. It was originally designed in 1861 and built between 1865 and 1877 by Giuseppe Mengoni.

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is the ancestor of modern sealed glass shopping malls. It features a 19th-century style mall design with a glass and cast iron roof in an arched structure. Two glass-vaulted corridors intersect at a central octagonal space. This architectural style has been adopted by other famous large-scale shopping centers such as London’s Burlington Arcade, the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, and the Passazh in St. Petersburg.

Having been in use for over 130 years, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is one of the oldest and largest shopping malls in the world. The arcade has four floors and houses many luxury brand stores such as Prada and Louis Vuitton, as well as everyday retail shops selling a wide variety of goods—from high fashion, leather shoes, and luggage to accessories, books, and home goods. With such a broad selection, it is truly a shopper's paradise. In addition, the arcade also features restaurants, cafes, and bars where visitors can relax. Adjacent to the arcade is Milan’s ultra-luxurious Town House Galleria hotel, which offers some of the city’s most upscale accommodations and facilities.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Must-visit reason: One of the oldest and largest shopping malls in the world

Continent: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region: Italy[Italy]

Province/State: Lombardy Region [Lombardy Region]

City: Milan [Milan]