Italy Guide
Lombardy and the lakes
Shopping
1 Dolce & Gabbana Menswear at Corso Venezia 15. Go through to the courtyard on the ground floor of this eighteenth-century palazzo to find a wonderful space dedicated to enhancing your shopping experience. There's an old-fashioned barber's, a small beautican's and the oh-so stylish Bar Martini, popular with beautiful people of all nationalities. Womenswear at Via della Spiga 26; D&G line, including D&G junior, at Corso Venezia 7.
2 Gianfranco Ferré Via Sant'Andrea 15 The sculptural designs of this master of couture are mirrored by the decor of his boutique with its stunning red resin wall, but it is the adjoining day-spa that makes it really special. Opening time: Mon– Fri 10am–10pm, Sat 10am–9pm, Sun 11am–6pm
3 Gianni Versace Via Montenapoleone 11 Unusually for Versace, this store, spread over five storeys, is remarkably understated. The clean lines provide a perfect backdrop for the luxurious ostentation of the clothes, shoes and accessories in glinting gold and swirling colours.
4 Giorgio Armani Via Manzoni 31 This temple to all things Giorgio is more of a mini-shopping centre than a shop. There are boutiques for all his ranges – womenswear, menswear, furnishings and homeware – accompanied by Armani Café, a relaxed pavement café, and Nobu, a pricey, high-tech Japanese restaurant with fantastically offhand service. With a book corner selling design and coffee-table books, an in-house florists and a chocolate counter offering monogrammed sugary confections, you really won't need to spend your money anywhere else in town.
5 Gucci Via Montenapoleone 5–7 & Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II Every desirable fashion item imaginable is available in the warren of sleek show rooms in Montenapoleone, while the newer store in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II has the Gucci Café: revitalize in an atmosphere of elegant minimalism with a freshly squeezed fruit juice or a coffee.
6 Just Cavalli Boutique Via della Spiga 30. The ultimate in bling. Cavalli's leopardskin-clad clientele feel wonderfully at home in the white-cloud lift or shimmering up and down the giant central staircase. The pièce de résistance, however, is down in the café, Just Cavalli Food, where a saltwater aquarium swims with brightly coloured tropical fish.
7 Prada Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. The original Prada store, dating from 1913, stands on a side corner in the centre of the galleria. Much of the elegant interior is original, including the monochrome marble floor and the polished wood display cabinets, but the best bit is the central staircase swirling down past the leather goods to the men's and women's collections in the basement. Accessories, including shoes, at Via della Spiga 18; menswear at Via Montenapoleone 6; womenswear at Via Montenapoleone 8; sportswear at Via Sant'Andrea 21.
8 Trussardi Via Sant'Andrea 3–7. A spacious boutique across three floors with the über-chic Trussardi-Marino Alla Scala Café on the ground floor and a huge video wall to keep you entertained while you sip your coffee. On the floor above the soft leather bags and crisp linens is the formal but well-priced restaurant, and one floor higher still is a contemporary gallery space. Accessories and homeware at Piazza della Scala 5.