The Galleria Octagon

The Octagon of the Galleria, under the dome of Milan

At the crossing of the two arms of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is the octagon, topped by an impressive glass dome. It is the heart of the most famous gallery of Milan. The Milan audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this spectacular place and its traditions, the meeting point of the Milanese.

A dome and its mosaics

The central octagon of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is crowned by a vast iron-and-glass dome, a nineteenth-century architectural masterpiece. On the floor, mosaics represent notably the coats of arms of several Italian cities. One of them, depicting a bull, is the object of a famous tradition: it is said that spinning your heel on it brings luck, which generations of visitors have repeated.

What to see

Here you look up at the glass dome and observe the mosaics on the floor, including the famous bull. It is the most spectacular point of the gallery, and a prized meeting place. The octagon sums up, on its own, the elegance and the effervescence of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, in the heart of Milan.

Practical information

The octagon lies in the centre of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, between Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Scala, in Milan, reachable on foot. It is a covered public space, freely accessible and on the level. Very busy, it is best savoured outside rush hours, looking up at the dome.

What is the octagon of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II?

It is the central space of the gallery, at the crossing of its two arms, topped by a great glass dome and decorated with mosaics on the floor.

What is the tradition of the bull in the octagon?

According to tradition, spinning your heel on the mosaic depicting a bull, on the floor of the octagon, is said to bring luck; many visitors repeat this gesture there.