Galleria Vittorio Emanuele

The Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery connects Piazza Duomo and Piazza della Scala. It has an indoor plant, cruciform, with a large octagonal space at the intersection. Its construction began in 1865, designed by the architect Giuseppe Mengoni. In Eclectic style, it's characterized by caryatids, lunettes and pilasters, as the typical style of the second half of eight hundred century in Milan. The covered part is decorated by statues of the sculptor Pietro Magni. The Gallery hosts many designer shops and prestigious brands, famous cafes, restaurants and luxury hotels. Together with Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga, is a landmark of luxury shopping. The Octagon center is considered the lounge of the city: its floor shows a mosaic with the emblem of the House of Savoy and the other four mosaics with historical capitals of Italy. According to tradition, it's good luck to turn on themselves three times, with the right heel at the genitals of the bull mosaic within the coat of arms.