Beginning in April and just in
time for the start of Expo 2015, Milan visitors will be able to
walk the city's iconic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II from above,
along catwalks perched on the roof of the 19th-century shopping
mall.
The catwalks, which will undergo a two-million-euro
restoration project sponsored by Seven Stars Hotel and
Alessandro Rosso Group, were included in the building's 1861
plan by architect Giuseppe Mengoni to allow for maintenance of
the arcade's vaulted glass ceiling.
The city of Milan is renting out the roof space to the
hotel group until the end of 2016 for 118,000 euros a year, with
part of the ticket proceeds to be donated back to the city of
Milan.
Public works assessor Carmela Rozza said investment in the
building's restoration totals 10 million euros, between the
city's investment of 5 million euros in a concurrent restoration
project, with an additional 3 million provided by corporate
sponsorship from Prada, Versace and Feltrinelli, and the 2
million that Seven Stars Hotel will contribute to restore the
roof's walkways.
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