Prada Just Opened an 8-Floor Milan Wonderland With a Secret Underground Passage

Prada has turned its historic Milan home into something much bigger than a luxury store. The newly opened Prada Galleria stretches across eight floors and brings fashion, food, art, architecture, and more than a century of history under one roof.

The ambitious destination opened on September 23, 2026, inside Milan’s famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Visitors can shop Prada collections, explore the brand’s archives, walk through an underground passage, eat pastries from a historic Milanese shop, and see contemporary art without leaving the complex.

Mario and Martino Prada opened Fratelli Prada in the Galleria in 1913, selling leather goods, trunks, and travel accessories. More than a century later, the fashion house has expanded around the same place where its story began.

Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group’s chief marketing officer and head of corporate social responsibility, summed up the connection in an interview with “Vogue.” He described the Galleria as the place “where everything started for Prada.”

Prada Galleria Is Much More Than a Flagship Store

Vogue Australia / Prada Galleria sits inside one of Milan’s most recognizable landmarks. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II was built during the 19th century and connects Piazza del Duomo with the area around La Scala.

Its glass roof, ornate mosaics, grand arches, and luxury shops have made it an essential Milan stop for generations.

Prada already occupied a historic position inside the arcade, but the new project expands that presence dramatically. Instead of creating one giant shopping floor, Prada has divided the complex into spaces with different purposes and personalities.

The eight-floor destination includes Prada Donna and Prada Uomo, alongside Pradasphere, the Studio, Appartamento, Marchesi 1824, and Osservatorio Fondazione Prada. Some areas welcome general visitors, while private spaces focus on personal shopping, dinners, events, and invited guests.

The women’s boutique keeps a strong connection to Prada’s original location. Historic design details remain part of the setting, linking today’s collections with the company’s earliest years. That continuity helps the building feel less like a new retail project and more like a living piece of Prada history.

However, the biggest surprise waits underground. Prada Donna and Prada Uomo are now connected by the Passaggio Segreto, which translates to “Secret Passage.” The subterranean walkway turns the trip from one boutique to another into part of the Prada experience, with references to early designs and ideas that shaped the company’s identity.

One of the major attractions is Pradasphere. The exhibition concept previously appeared temporarily in cities including London, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, but Milan now gives it a permanent home.

Pradasphere explores Prada’s history from 1913 to the present. The exhibition draws on the company’s extensive archives and examines its influence beyond clothing and accessories.

A Secret Passage Leads to Pastries and Prada History

E Online / Marchesi 1824 occupies space above Prada Uomo and brings more than two centuries of Milanese pastry tradition into the complex.

The name is quite literal. Marchesi was founded in Milan in 1824 and built a reputation for traditional pastries, chocolates, cakes, biscotti, and beautifully packaged sweets. Prada Group acquired an 80 percent stake in the historic business in 2014.

The connection gives Prada Galleria an unusual mix of two Milanese luxury traditions. Prada represents the city’s global fashion influence, while Marchesi carries a much older culinary identity. Visitors can stop for espresso and pastries while looking over the Galleria below. The elegant setting offers a different pace from the boutiques and exhibitions surrounding it.

Marchesi is not a new café created to make the flagship feel more luxurious. Its original Milan location on Via Santa Maria alla Porta dates back more than 200 years. This gives the pastry shop a history that is almost a century older than Prada itself.

The building becomes more exclusive on its upper floors. The Studio provides private rooms for personal shopping appointments and includes a larger central space that can host special events.