See Inside Prada Galleria, an Immersive Eight-Floor Flagship in Milan
The latest star of the Milan shopping scene boasts art, shopping, pastry, and more
Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is arguably the grandparent of shopping malls, but its 19th century halls have an inimitable atmospheric legacy. Prada has had a presence in the venerable skylight arcade since the brand was founded in 1913, so the placement of the new Prada Galleria within Vittorio Emanuele is but the latest in a long association. The new Prada Donna and Prada Uomo stores, at last conveniently connected by the underground Passagio Segreto, are joined by a cluster of exhibition spaces celebrating the vision that Miuccia Prada took to new heights.
Patrons in want of refreshment will find an outpost of local favorite Marchesi 1824, while shoppers seeking a personalized experience can take advantage of the appointment-only second floor Studio, which also offers space for private events.
Prada’s expansion still includes Osservatorio Fondazione Prada, devoted to visual experimentation, technology, media, and other forms of expression. But there is a new highlight: Pradasphere, an exhibit devoted to Prada’s history and future. In addition, The Appartamento introduces a more private, domestic counterpoint to the public-facing exhibition and retail spaces, curated by photographic artist Andreas Gursky.
Above all, there is space and unity: the new Prada Donna more than doubles the room for display. And the label has taken advantage of its plentiful archive with inspired placements throughout the Galleria. For example, the secret passage underneath Vittoria Emanule’s storied mosaic floors hosts reminders from some of Prada’s less-recalled but still memorable design moments.
While the Fondazione Prada galleries on the fifth and sixth floors of the men’s side look to innovation, longtime clients may note that the original mahogany shelves commissioned over a century ago by Mario Prada himself are still in place within the women’s store. The result is less a conventional flagship than an evolution of the Prada world from the very spot where it first took shape.