Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
The famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is a magnificent shopping arcade in Milan, covered with a glass and iron dome. The interior of the impressive five-storey building is decorated with patriotic mosaics and statues.
The Galleria is named after Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of the Kingdom of Italy. It was designed in 1861 and built by architect Giuseppe Mengoni between 1865 and 1867, during the turbulent era of the Italian Unification. According to its architect, the Galleria was meant to symbolize Italian unity and self-confidence.
The building consists of two glass-vaulted arcades intersecting in an octagon covering the street connecting Piazza del Duomo to Piazza della Scala. The street is covered by an arching glass and cast iron dome, a popular design for 19th-century arcades.
Inside the Galleria, all the commercial activities must display a sign with gold writing on a black background.
IL SALOTTO DI MILANO - MILAN'S LIVING ROOM
The Galleria is often nicknamed il salotto di Milano (Milan's living room), due to its numerous shops and its importance as a common Milanese meeting and dining place
As of 2013, the arcade principally contained luxury retailers selling haute couture, jewelry, books and paintings, as well as restaurants, cafés, bars, and a hotel: the Town House Galleria. The Galleria is famous for being home to some of the oldest shops and restaurants in Milan, such as Biffi Caffè, which was founded in 1867.