Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Piazza del Duomo entrance 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 Giuseppe Mengoni between 1865 and 1878.
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.
While it is probably the first purpose-built mall in Italy, the Passazh on the Nevsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg is certainly of a similar if not older date.
The Milanese Galleria has inspired many others; see Galleria.
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