A brief stop in Milan : Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

A snippet of  Italian architecture on the drive into Milan … love it

Milan .. the centre of fashion .. .business and finance.  As we drove through the streets, my thoughts were of Abigail (Betz), the dress designer who designed and made both Elaine’s gorgeously elegant wedding gown and my beautiful pale pink dress, in raw silk, because she lived in Milan for a number of years working in the fashion industry.  During our fitting sessions, she often told us about Milan.  Now here I was .. in Milan ..    (Day 8:  Sunday)

 Neo-Classical Teatro alla Scala, opened in 1778, is one of the world’s moswt prestigious opera houses.  It has one of the largest stages in Europe and hosts sumptuous productions.   Would have loved to have peeped inside the auditorium with its ‘gilded box galleries, trompe-l’oeil effect and huge chandelier’.

Teatro alla Scala overlooks the Piazza della Scala …. where there is a monument, erected in 1872,  honouring Leonardo da Vinci, who is considered one of the most multi-talented people of all time.   At the foot stand his favourite students.  Reliefs depict some of the disciplines that da Vinci mastered : painting, sculpting, engineering and architecture.  One of his most famous works was created during his stay in Milan : Last Supper in the refectory of the Santa Maria delle Grazie

Palazzo Marino, a 16th century palace, has been Milan’s city hall since 1861 ..

Wow .. jaw dropping shopping arcade!!!   The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is an enormous ornate shopping arcade linking Piazza della Scala and Piazza del Duomo, where the magnificent giant Gothic Duomo is built  …

Known as il Salotto di Milano (Milan’s drawing room) was designed by Guiseppe Mengoni in 1865

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The floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross, with an octagonal centre adorned with mosaics representing four continents : Europe, America, Africa and Asia.  There are also signs of the zodiac, one being Taurus the Bull – tourists spin on the genitals which is said to bring good luck.  Too long a queue for us to do it – couldn’t even get a decent photo

Gelato is a MUST !!!!

 Love the glove shops!!!!    We don’t get them here in South Africa … yes we get gloves but not shops for gloves!!!!

One of the two side entrances …

Piazza del Duomo entrance …

We visit the Duomo next ..

…. Trafalgar Tours : Best of Italy : June 2013