A glass dome about 37m in diameter covers the octagonal central space linking four glazed barrel vaults in one of the world’s most elegant shopping malls, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, built in neoclassical style in the 19th century to link the piazzas in front of the Cathedral or Duomo and the ‘La Scala’ opera house in Milan, Lombardy, Italy. The mall houses some of the world’s best-known high-end fashion brands, as well as book and art dealers and some of Milan’s oldest and finest restaurants.
Milan, Lombardy, Italy: a glass dome about 37m (121 ft) in diameter covers the octagonal central space linking four glazed barrel vaults in one of the world’s best-known and most elegant shopping malls, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, built in neoclassical style in the 19th century to link the piazzas in front of the city’s cathedral and opera house. The Galleria was built between 1865 and 1877 to connect Piazza del Duomo, site of Milan Cathedral, and Piazza della Scala, home to ‘La Scala’, the Teatro alla Scala opera house. It is Italy’s oldest active shopping gallery or mall, created as part of the renewal of the city centre following Milan’s liberation from Austrian control in 1859 and the Unification of Italy in 1861. It is named after the first king of the new Kingdom of Italy, Victor Emmanuel II. The mall between the two piazzas runs for around 200m (656 ft). The central glass dome is about 17m (56 ft) high while the four barrel vaults are each about (48 ft) wide and (28 ft) high. The arched glass and cast iron roof used 350 tonnes of metal and was one of the most innovative and challenging designs of its time. Architect Giuseppe Mengone (1829-77) did not live to see the Galleria’s success, as he accidentally fell to his death from the main cupola on the day before it opened. The Galleria today houses Italy’s best known high-end fashion brands, as well as shops selling haute couture, books and art and also some of Milan’s oldest and finest restaurants and cafés. It is nicknamed ‘il salotto di Milano’ (the drawing room or living room of Milan) due to its popularity as a meeting and dining place.
Size: 2729px × 4103px
Location: Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan, Lombardy, Italy
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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