Before you is one of the most beautiful arcades in Europe, named after the first king of unified Italy. Victor Emmanuel II personally attended the opening of this gallery in 1877. The ceremonial occasion was overshadowed by only one event that occurred just a few days earlier - the death of the architect Giuseppe Mengoni, who accidentally fell from the scaffolding. However, thanks to his creation, his memory lives on to this day.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II has been attracting tourists for several centuries and is a source of pride for the residents of Milan. It was built in the shape of a Latin cross, meaning it has 4 exits symbolizing 4 continents (except Australia). The roof of the arcade was replaced by a magnificent dome of glass and metal. This was truly an innovative solution for the architecture of that time.
At the central point of the gallery, the coat of arms of Italy, depicting a bull, is laid out in mosaic on the floor. Among tourists, a legend is actively kept alive that if you place your heel on the animal's groin area and spin around three times, wealth and good luck will surely await you.
Well, anything is possible! But great luck can already be considered the fact that this arcade brings together brand stores of the world's most famous labels: Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, and many others. Fashion shows, concerts, and exhibitions are also regularly held here.
