Inside Prada Galleria: An Eight-Storey Fashion Universe in Milan

Prada has unveiled an extraordinary new destination in the heart of Milan – and it is far more than a flagship store.

Set within the historic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the magnificent 19th-century arcade where Mario Prada opened the original Fratelli Prada boutique in 1913, Prada Galleria brings together eight floors dedicated to fashion, art, culture, hospitality and the house’s 113-year history.

The ambitious project connects two sides of the Galleria’s central octagon via a new subterranean passage, creating an immersive Prada universe within one of Milan’s most recognisable landmarks. Alongside expanded Prada Donna and Prada Uomo boutiques, visitors will find Marchesi 1824 – the beloved Milanese pasticceria majority-owned by the fashion house – as well as the Osservatorio Fondazione Prada, an exhibition space devoted to contemporary photography and visual culture.

At the heart of the complex is Pradasphere, a permanent exhibition charting Prada’s evolution from its beginnings as a luxury leather-goods company to its position as one of fashion’s most intellectually influential houses. Newly added floors also offer invitation-only shopping and private hospitality, giving selected guests an even more exclusive way to experience the brand.

Conceived under the direction of Miuccia Prada, the project reflects the many disciplines that have shaped Prada over the decades, spanning architecture, cinema, sport and contemporary art.

Part boutique, part cultural institution and part exceptionally chic place to stop for coffee and cake, Prada Galleria offers a compelling new reason to revisit Milan – although, frankly, we rarely need much convincing.