Galleria Vittorio Emanuel II in Milan splendour and wealth

Galleria Vittorio Emanuel II is one of the best known and therefore most visited objects in Milan. 

Milan is full of attractions and extraordinary places. One of the very interesting ones is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, located right next to the famous Duomo Cathedral.

Dear readers, today I will take you on an unforgettable journey to Milan: the capital of fashion, architecture, and art. However, we will focus on another, in my opinion, the most beautiful shopping gallery in the world after La Fayette in Paris – the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan.

The history of the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuel II shopping mall in Milan, which became the city’s greatest attraction

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan was designed in 1861, and the implementation of the project took a whole twelve years. Thus, construction began four years after the idea was announced, in 1865, and was completed in 1877, a year after Alexander Graham Bell introduced his latest invention to the world—the telephone. It’s fascinating to speculate whether telephonic communication was already being used towards the end of the construction of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan.

As you probably know, during that time, the world witnessed the creation of many more or less incredible inventions. The most famous, without which we cannot imagine life today, was Graham Bell’s telephone. A few years later, in 1888, Mr. George W. Eastman placed the world’s first handheld camera into the hands of ordinary people, but this information has nothing to do with our story today! Let’s return to Milan and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

The progress of construction was overseen by the Italian architect Giuseppe Mengoni, who, in fact, did not live to see the gallery’s opening, as he tragically died falling from the roof near the end of its construction. This event occurred two days before the official opening of the gallery by King Victor Emmanuel II.

Here, my vivid imagination suggests inflated scenarios, from a romantic but tragically fatal love affair to more mundane possibilities, such as an accident taking centre stage or even suicide resulting from the criticism our hero received during the gallery’s construction. However, the fact remains that Giuseppe Mengoni died, falling to the floor precisely where the mosaic with the image of the Turin bull is located.

The legend of the Turin bull and the place in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuel II that brings good luck

This legend is tied to the bull, as one might expect. It states that spinning three times on the bull’s genitals brings good luck. Whether you believe it or not, what’s stopping us from giving it a try? After all, we need to lend a hand of luck somehow, right? 🙂 So when you see a shorter or longer line of people waiting, know that you’ve come to the right place. Just stand in line and spin on your heel around the bull, and from me, I’ll add: may luck be on your side.

The legend tells of a powerful bull brought to Milan to fight a monster, a kind of basilisk, that was killing the city’s inhabitants. The bull, of course, killed the creature but perished in the process. As it died, it kicked the ground with its hoof, and that place became a space where all evil forces lost their power.

As you can imagine, the worn hollow in the marble floor, shaped by thousands of shoes, is a symbolic place where the mighty bull sacrificed its life for the city’s residents.

Symbols and decorations in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuel II in Milan

Apart from the image of the bull, as I mentioned, which is part of the Turin Coat of Arms on the floor. You will also find other mosaics depicting coats of arms from the other capitals of the Kingdom of United Italy. These include the coats of arms of Milan (red cross on a white field), Florence (fleur-de-lis), and, of course, Rome (she-wolf).

The gallery was opened in 1877 and was then one of the largest shopping galleries made of iron and glass in the world. Similar structures had been built before, but not on such a scale. In terms of construction, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II was similar to the Burlington Arcade in London and the Saint-Hubert Gallery in Brussels, which opened in 1847.

The opening was conducted by the reigning king of the newly formed Kingdom of Italy, Victor Emmanuel II, the ruler who played a crucial role in the unification of Italy. This is why the symbols of unity on the floor of the building are prominently displayed on the floor of the building.

An unusual roof structure in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuel II in Milan

The entire roof of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is made of iron and glass. The structure consists of four barrel vaults, each over 8 meters wide and just under 15 meters long, connected by a central dome.

The central dome is enormous, with an almost 40-meter diameter and over 17 meters in height. In contrast to the La Fayette Gallery in Paris, the one in Milan is made of colorless glass, creating an exceptionally bright interior that feels spacious and expansive.

The glass panels were produced by the French company Saint-Gobain, which still specializes in such constructions today. The iron elements were also ordered from France, from the company French Atelier Henry Joret. Both companies had to collaborate to create a new type of connection between glass and metal due to the unprecedented scale of the project.

Shops, restaurants, bars, and even hotels in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuel II in Milan

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan encompasses four floors filled with extraordinary opulence and wealth. It serves as the headquarters for renowned Italian and global fashion designers, painters, jewellers, writers, artists of all kinds, all recognized in the world’s salons. Giant fashion houses like Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Christian Dior, Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta, and many other more or less renowned brands have their boutiques here.

Since its inception, the gallery has been a place of prestige. An example is the Town House Galleria hotel, opened in 2007 on the site of its predecessor that once hosted King Victor Emmanuel II himself.

Other icons of the gallery include places like the Biffi Caffe, a coffee that existed here even before the construction of the glass roof. Another well-known restaurant is Savini, where one can have a meal prepared by world-famous chefs (of course, considering that the price of such a meal could sustain a comfortable living for many days).

I love famous shopping galleries and eagerly visit them whenever there is an opportunity. I highly recommend visiting the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, a place full of splendour and glamour where shoes can cost 4,000 euros, and just outside, contrastingly, homeless people sleep.

Curiosities related to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuel II in Milan

• The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, due to its representative nature, is also known as the “Salon of Milan.” Both Milanese locals and tourists willingly spend their leisure time here.
• The gallery houses age-old and renowned Milanese shops and restaurants. One of the oldest is Biffa Caffe, created by Paolo Biffi, the personal pastry chef of the Italian king. This restaurant hosted cultural and scientific figures such as Ernest Hemingway, Giuseppe Garibaldi, and Arturo Toscanini.
• In 2012, the McDonald’s fast-food chain had its lease agreement in the gallery not renewed. Authorities explained that it was not appropriate for a budget-friendly eatery to be located next to world-class restaurants. This situation led to a conflict in which the American giant sued the city of Milan for compensation of 24 million euros, claiming that the loss of the lease agreement would deprive them of at least 6 million euros in annual revenue. McDonald’s dropped the lawsuit after being granted the right to open its restaurant nearby, outside the gallery. A Prada store now occupies the former McDonald’s location.
• On the last day before closing, McDonald’s distributed free food that was enough for over 5,000 customers.
• In the gallery, you can explore the latest collections from stores like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Armani, Luisa Spagnoli, or Swarovski. If you’re interested in purchasing books, look for the Rizzoli bookshop, while coin collectors will find Liberia Poligrafico to their liking. As you can see, there’s something delightful for everyone.
• Both the gallery and its extraordinary roof have been recognized as outstanding works of 19th-century architecture. As mentioned earlier, the roof consists of four barrel vaults topped by a massive dome with a diameter of 37.5 meters and a height of over 17 meters.
• Other places we visited in Milan, which you can read about on the website, include the Duomo Cathedral, the Leonardo da Vinci Science and Technology Museum in Milan, and the article “Milan in Two Days.”

Facts and practical tips useful when visiting the Galleria Vittorio Emanuel II in Milan

• Galeria Vittorio Emanuele II is impossible to overlook, and you can find it near the Duomo Cathedral at the address: Piazza del Duomo, 20123 Milano MI, Italy.
• It is possible to ascend to the top of the nearby Duomo Cathedral, from where you can see the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II up close, not to mention the charm of the cathedral itself.
• In the hotel founded by Alessandro Rossa and located in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, anyone with a few thousand euros per night in their account can stay.
• The most expensive suite in the Hotel in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan costs 17,000 euros per night and has a size of almost 500 square meters.
• The gallery also houses the Tourist Information offices, where you can find assistance in planning your exploration of the rest of the city.
• It is easy to combine a trip to Milan with a visit to Venice.

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