It is one of the most impressive buildings of Milan. It connects Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Scala.
Inside the Galleria there are clothes shops, stores and cafés. The cross shaped galleria is known as the living room of Milan, il salotto di Milano.
The designer of the galleria is Giuseppe Mengoni. In 1867 Vittorio Emanuele II openned it. However the designer could not see the openning as he died some time before. In memory of the architect, a plaque was put in the left column of the towering arch of triump which has an access to the Galleria from the north side.
The ceiling vaults are decorated with mosaics which represent four parts of the world that are Europe, Asia, Africa and America as well as the coats of arms of Vittorio Emanuele's Savoia family, the symbols of Milan, Rome, Florence and Turin.
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