Galleria Umberto I: Shopping in Naples

The city of Naples generally brings to mind images of heavenly pizza, unforgettable sunsets over the bay, and the sweet, flaky crunch of the city’s signature sfogliatella pastry.

While these are certainly some of Naple’s main attractions, those in search of Italian style also know the city for its excellent shopping.

Milan is undoubtedly Italy’s designer fashion capital but Naples’s tradition of finely tailored clothing, exclusive boutiques and unique style should not be missed by anyone serious about enjoying some retail therapy.

What better way to begin your Naples shopping adventure than at the impressive Galleria Umberto I, just a few feet from the waterfront and Piazza Plebiscito. With its impressive Neoclassical façade and central glass dome soaring to 56 metres, the Galleria is a both an architectural masterpiece of glass and steel construction and one of the city’s shopping treasures.

When it opened in 1890 the Galleria was the height of fashion and today its glass domed ceiling, inlaid marble floors and fine shops still convey the same sense of elegance.

Named after the King of Italy, Umberto I, the Galleria is truly a shopping experience fit for a king. Located just across the street from the grand Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace), the Galleria was designed to serve as a social meeting place as well as a commercial centre. In design and planning, Naples’s Galleria Umberto I follows the pattern of Milan’s successful Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II that opened in 1875. In the late nineteenth century there was a shared affinity in both architecture and Italian designer fashions between Milan and Naples.

Under the glass-domed ceiling the mix of cafès and boutiques make the Galleria Umberto a popular stop for locals and visitors alike whether you’re interested in fashion, perfumes or Naples’s traditional coral and gold jewellery. Even non-shoppers find it hard to pass up the fine window- shopping and people-watching as they enjoy a pastry or gelato at one of the Galleria’s elegant coffee houses.

Just outside the Galleria you’ll find the Via Toledo, one of the best shopping streets in Naples. There you will find a variety of shops from small boutiques to popular fashion stores with something to appeal to every budget.

Where to find it
The Galleria Umberto I is on one of Naples’s most impressive crossroads where Via Chiaia and Via Toledo meet at the busy Piazza Trieste e Trento. The Teatro San Carlo is just across the Piazza as well as the impressive Piazza Plebiscito. Just across the Piazza Trieste e Trento is the famous Caffè Gambrinus, a perfect spot to refuel your shopping energy with an intensely rich Neapolitan espresso.