Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is a shopping mall with a long history in Milan.
Cheerful energy from city dwellers
It is often said that Italians are lively, generous, open-minded, extroverted and sociable. This statement was true at my first stop in Italy, Milan. The late train arriving at the city, almost midnight, made us quite confused when moving to our accommodation. Although the homestay was near the train station, the pouring rain made us confused when finding our way. Luckily, a young man who met us on the deserted road enthusiastically helped and took us to the homestay.
The subway and bus trips around the city further reinforce the perception of the Italian character when the local boys and girls freely talk and laugh, expressing their emotions through body movements and intonation. We quietly observed and felt like they were spreading their joyful energy through their lively conversations. At the most bustling tourist attractions in the city, the atmosphere was even more bustling. From Duomo square to the surrounding small streets, in the most famous cafes or traditional bakeries in Milan, everywhere I saw elegant, friendly faces chatting happily. They always enthusiastically responded and gave us detailed directions when we asked about restaurants and directions.
Gothic buildings in Duomo Square
The Vanity of Art
Is there a connection between the Italian character traits and the sublimation of art? The emotional souls have brought the Italian arts to the level of humanity from painting to sculpture, music , architecture… And a part of the Italian artistic quintessence has reigned in Milan. Coming here, to explore the art of architecture and sculpture, you must definitely go to Duomo square – the heart of Milan – located in the city center.
The square is named after the Milan Cathedral (full Italian name is Duomo di Milano). This church is always on the list of the most magnificent and splendid cathedrals in Europe and the world . Overwhelmed is my first feeling when I set foot in the square, admiring the construction from afar with a direct view. Looking up at the church roof, the forest of white stone spires rising up to the blue sky is a spectacular image deeply imprinted in my mind. American writer and journalist Mark Twain first came here in 1867 and exclaimed: “ What a wonder it is! So grand, so solemn, so vast! And yet so delicate, so airy, so graceful!” ( source visit-Milano.net )
In addition to its elegant architectural features, this structure also impresses with more than 3,000 decorative statues, including nearly 100 animal heads. With more than 5 centuries of construction, this Gothic-style structure is the brainchild of nearly 80 talented European architects from many countries.
Exquisite stone carvings on the walls of Milan Cathedral
Visitors have many options to explore the church, such as going inside or buying tickets to visit the rooftop and see Milan from above. Due to the large number of visitors, there will be a long wait for security checks or queuing to buy tickets. As for me, I chose to walk around the church to see the exquisite carvings on the stone up close. Moreover, standing at the front of the church, watching the bustling crowd in the square is also an interesting experience to feel Milan.
A few steps from the church is a complex called Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. This is a shopping center built in the late 19th century, but its architecture is worth admiring and learning about. This building is also like a magnificent palace with a glass-domed walkway, floors paved with mosaics, pillars or walls with countless elaborate statues. Here gather famous, luxury brands that any shopping enthusiast will feel satisfied, just looking at it is pleasing to the eye. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is also an art rendezvous with regular performances, a meeting place for artists and the public who love music, fashion, etc.
Milan – a city in the north of Italy has many things to discover, many places to explore. In July 2025, Vietnam Airlines is expected to launch a direct flight from Hanoi to Milan. At this time, the airline has opened sales with many extremely attractive prices. Please refer to the information on the website www.vietnamairlines.com and plan a trip to Milan next summer.
Source: https://heritagevietnamairlines.com/trai-tim-milan/
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