Visiting Italy: Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is a covered arcade situated on the northern side of the Piazza del Duomo in Milan, connecting to the Piazza della Scala. Named after King Victor Emmanuel II (It. Vittorio Emanuele II), the first king of united Italy, it was built by G. Mengoni between 1865 and 1878.

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The street is covered over by an arching glass and steel roof, thus giving it a claim to be the world’s first
shopping mall. The four storey arcade includes elegant shops selling most things from ‘haute couture’ to
books, as well as restaurants, cafes and bars.