Hotel Palladio *

The renowned Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, one of the first buildings in Europe built in glass and iron, was inaugurated in 1867 by King Vittorio Emanuele II himself. It is called il salotto di Milano because it is the traditional meeting place of the Milanese; indeed it offers a wide range of cafés, restaurants such the historical restaurant Savini as well as fashion boutiques and the most important bookshops in the city. It is on the plan of a Latin cross with an octagonal centre, the famous Ottagono regarded by every single Milanese as the heart of the city and is dominated by a central dome expanding into four branches one of which overlooking Piazza Duomo. The main branch connects Piazza Duomo with Piazza Scala and is the preferred promenade for La Scala amateurs who love strolling around with their fashionable evening dresses before enjoying a performance at La Scala Theatre.