Along with the ancient architecture, historical and cultural monuments of Milan, the world-famous sights of the city are its magnificent shops. Chic boutiques, decorated in different styles and representing the brilliant names of famous designers and haute couture houses, attract visitors no less than the masterpieces of world art and the opera stars of La Scala. Milan is not only a synonym for the word “fashion”, but also its recognized capital, a trendsetter of style, fashion trends, and the global fashion industry.
And, in order to better navigate the “fashionable” navigation of Milan, we offer a fascinating tour of the main shopping districts of the city.
So, first of all – the famous ” Fashion Square “, the quintessence of luxury boutiques in the heart of Milan. “Fashion Square” formed by shopping streets Via
Via Montenapoleone, Via Sant’Andrea, Via Monzani, Via Della Spiga, Via Borgospesso, Via Santo Spirito and Via Gesu (Via Gesu). There are many shops of Italian and foreign designers, show-rooms and ateliers here. The most famous is the ancient Via Montenapoleone, which got its name in 1804, during the Napoleonic era, when Milan was, according to Stendhal, “a flourishing republic of arts and pleasures.” On Montenapoleon there are: clothing boutiques Ermenegildo Zegna, Etro, Prada, Valentino, Versace, Armani, Bally, Laura Biagiotti, Brioni, Salvatore Ferragamo, Gucci, Lario, Ungaro; shoe and leather goods stores Bottega Veneta, Ferragamo, Fratelli Rossetti, Geox, Hogan, Silvano Lattanzi, Tanino Crisci; jewelry boutiques Calderoni, Cusi, Gianmaria Buccellati and Mario Buccellati, Marina B. Rinaldo Gavello. Via Sant’Andrea, which intersects with Montenapoleone, houses Gianfranco Ferré, Missoni, Armani, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Kenzo, Moschino, Cesare Paciotti, Prada and Trussardi. On Via della Spiga you can find clothing boutiques Agnona, Dolce & Gabbana, Krizia, Roberto Cavalli. Via Manzoni is home to Les Copains, Mila Schön and the Armani Concept Store with the charming Emporio Armani Café. Gabbana, Krizia, Roberto Cavalli. Via Manzoni is home to Les Copains, Mila Schön and the Armani Concept Store with the charming Emporio Armani Café. Gabbana, Krizia, Roberto Cavalli. Via Manzoni is home to Les Copains, Mila Schön and the Armani Concept Store with the charming Emporio Armani Café.
Another sophisticated and fashionable district of Milan is the streets near the Brera Gallery, which have been the mecca of Milanese bohemia for almost two centuries. There are sophisticated clothing boutiques, antique shops, as well as “bric-a-brac” shops – with curious knick-knacks. For example, the Corso Como 10 store presents an original collection of clothes, accessories, bags, artifacts and even books, and on the ground floor there is an art gallery and a cafe. Trendy boutiques in the Brera area include: Babele, Laura Ashley, Naj-Oleari, Luisa Beccaria on Via Formentini 1 and knitwear boutique Nir Lagziel on Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi 44, as well as Liolà boutiques where you can buy chic jersey.
Corso Vittorio Emanuele– a wide pedestrian street connecting Cathedral Square with San Babila Square. There are many shops for every taste, bars, cafes, as well as a concentration of cinemas. In the evening, Corso Vittorio Emanuele becomes the most lively, filled not only with shoppers, but also with an idly walking public. The largest shopping center in the area is La Rinascente (Rinascente), and a wide range of stores are represented by different brands: Max Mara, Moreschi, Bruno Magli, Luisa Spagnoli, Marella, Moschino, Pollini, H&M, Zara, Furla, Benetton, Sisley. In addition, Corso Vittorio Emanuele houses the exclusive Loretta Capon lingerie boutique, popular with crowned heads and Hollywood stars, as well as La Scala Shop, which sells photographs, posters, programs and souvenirs related to the history and activities of La Scala Theatre.
Two more famous Milanese shopping streets are Via Torino and the Ticinese area.. Via Torino, connecting Piazza Duomo with the picturesque Ticinese area, has long been one of the main shopping streets in Milan. In recent years, Via Torino has developed into a shoe center with a variety of shops aimed mainly at young people. Here you can buy shoes for every taste – from boots – “all-terrain vehicles” to elegant sandals, and everything is of excellent quality and at various prices, from inexpensive to average and exclusive. Walking from the Cathedral Square along Via Torino, you will find yourself in the Ticinese area, where there are small shops and ateliers. On Corso di Porta Ticinese, you can find boutiques of young designers, such as Anna Fabiano, who specializes in creative and sophisticated clothes for ladies in their 30s and 40s. Also nearby is the Diesel Concept Store, a denim store.
Corso Buenos Aires is the longest shopping street in Milan, a communication artery connecting the city center with small business and large industrial areas in the north of the Lombard capital. Now there are more and more outlets here, and during the sales after Christmas and in mid-summer, Corso Buenos Aires stores offer very reasonable prices, and shop windows stretching almost 3 km are full of colorful price reduction announcements.
Near the FieraMilanoCity exhibition center and not far from the popular Milanese Parco Sempione (Parco Sempione), created in 1893 in the English landscape style, there is another shopping street – Corso Vercelli (Corso Vercelli), where you can find several good department stores, as well as branches the best central brand stores, such as McKenzy with Scottish wool products or Gemelli with a variety of chic clothes and accessories for an evening out. A short street leading east from the middle of Corso Vercelli – Via Belfiore is focused mainly on shoe manufacturers offering products for every taste and pocket.
Via Paolo Sarpi– a street in Milan’s “Chinatown”, which arose between the two world wars. The area has many shops and ateliers that make good leather goods (mainly concentrated in Via Canonica and Via Rosmin), as well as many artisan workshops specializing in metal and glassware, as well as creating amazing handmade carpets. Especially large crowds are observed here on Saturdays. Of the clothing stores on Via Paolo Sapri, there are: Absolut Joy Trend Store (youth fashion store), Andrea boutique, representing women’s clothing from designers Flavio Castellani, Adele Fado, Alysi, Gaudì and others, and Gianni Italia menswear boutique (Lacoste, Fay, Barbour, Brema, Woolrich, Canali, and Harmont & Blaine), a 1950s style Bardelli boutique,
Like most major Italian cities, Milan does not have a large number of department stores. Among the most popular and prestigious is La Rinascente, located in the very center, directly opposite the Cathedral. In this eight-story mall, open 7 days a week until 10:00 pm, you can find everything from clothes to perfumes. Other large department stores in Milan include Coin in Piazza Cinque Giorante, where you can buy various goods at affordable prices, Upim in Piazza San Babila, which sells clothes and many other goods at fairly low prices, as well as the huge Coop supermarket, surrounded by numerous shops, bars and cafes.
Shop opening hours and sales
Milan shops are usually open from 09:00 to 13:00 and from 15:30 or 16:00 to 19:30 or 20:00, however, many large shops and shopping centers are open throughout the day. On Saturdays, most shops close earlier at approximately 5:30 pm, with only a few shops open on Sunday. Also, many shops are closed on Monday mornings, but usually on Thursdays, Milanese shops are open until late.
Sales – “Saldi” – in Milan take place twice a year, right after Christmas and in early July. At this time, stores offer significant discounts, sometimes up to 75%, however, before buying a thing, you need to carefully check its quality, and two prices must be clearly indicated on the product – the original and discounted prices, and the percentage of the discount. Winter discounts in Milan start on January 1 and continue until early March, and summer discounts start on July 3.
You can find out information and get acquainted with the collections of famous Fashion Houses, whose representative offices are located in Milan, on their websites:
GORGIO ARMANI: www.giorgioarmani.com
Boutiques are located: Via Montenapoleone, 2; Via Manzoni, 31; Via Manzoni, 37; Via S. Radegonda 3; Corso Venezia, 5; Corso Vittorio Emanuele II; Via Croce Rossa, 2; Via Sant’Andrea 9; Via Spiga 19; Via Santa Redegonda, 3; Corso Vercelli, 8.
ALBERTA FERRETTI: www.albertaferretti.com
Boutiques are located: Via Montenapoleone, 18; La Rinascente, Piazza Duomo, 3F.
DOLCE & GABBANA: www.dolcegabbana.it Boutiques are located: menswear – Corso Venezia, 15; women’s clothing – Via Spiga, 26; accessories – Via Spiga, 2.
FENDI: www.fendi.com
The boutique is located in Via Sant’Andrea, 16.
GUCCI: www.gucci.com
Boutiques are located: Via Santa Radegonda, 3; Via Monte Napoleone 5 – 7; Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
GIANFRANCO FERRE: www.gucci.com
The boutique is located: Via Pontaccio, 21.
MOSCHINO: www.moschino.it The
boutiques are located: Via Sant’Andrea. 12; Via Spiga, 30; Piazza Duomo.
PRADA: www.prada.com
Boutiques are located: Corso Venezia, 3; Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II 63/65; Via Montenapoleone, 8; Via Spiga, 18/
ROBERTO CAVALLI: www.robertocavalli.com
Boutique located: Via Spiga, 42
VERSACE: www.versace.com
Boutique located: Via Montenapoleone, 11
