Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

About this place

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is Italy's oldest active shopping arcade and a major landmark of Milan. Housed within a four-story double arcade in the centre of town, the Galleria is named after Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of the Kingdom of Italy. It was designed in 1861 and built by architect Giuseppe Mengoni between 1865 and 1877. Begin with the overall setting, then look more closely at the details described in the site history. This connects the monument with the city around it and helps distinguish its original purpose from the meanings it acquired in later generations.