The Fondazione Prada Observatory, currently hosting a Hito Steyerl exhibition, the historic Libreria Bocca, the panoramic terraces, the countless boutiques and bars, the soaring iron-and-glass central dome, and the mosaics scattered across the floor—which are tied to quirky local traditions—make Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II not only the historic heart of Milan but also, like many buildings surrounding the Duomo, a place full of “ghost spaces”: little-known, abandoned areas waiting to be rediscovered.
One of these was the pedestrian walkway built for Expo 2015, which, 40 meters above ground, ran from Piazza della Scala along the rooftops of the Galleria all the way to the Duomo. Today, it reopens thanks to Highline Milano, a team of under-35 professionals who won the municipal tender to restore the panoramic tourist route, which had been out of use since 2019.
The Skywalk, created using the iron walkways originally designed for the maintenance of the Galleria’s historic iron-and-glass roof, also gets a new design and features a “Clouds area”: a series of panoramic platforms arranged along the “high-altitude” route, enriched with newly integrated historic spaces.
Among them, the Sala degli Orologi (Clock Room), a true historical and architectural jewel of 20th-century Milan, is a massive control room from which all the clocks in Milan’s squares were regulated. Located within the Galleria’s triumphal arch, just above the main entrance overlooking Piazza del Duomo, this secret room covers approximately 1,860 square meters and, since the 1930s, hosted the so-called “Centrale degli Orologi di Milano”, the city’s public clock regulation service, abruptly interrupted by the bombings of World War II.
Highline Milano’s revival aims to transform the Galleria into a new cultural hub suspended above the rooftops, where past and future meet—not only for tourists but also for Milanese residents who wish to see their historic center enhanced.
Highline’s plans include making the historic Skywalk, over 250 meters long, accessible via a redesigned route enriched with panoramic areas, greenery, art installations, and guided tours. Meanwhile, the Sala degli Orologi will host an ArtSpace dedicated to emerging contemporary artists, with the first exhibition curated by Flavio Di Renzo presenting over 60 historic photographs of the city reinterpreted by young artists from the Brera Academy.
Tickets for Highline Milano are already available online, and the panoramic walkway on the rooftops of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II will reopen on February 6, 2026. Open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the new cultural hub will offer both individual and guided visits, as well as open-date gift cards.
All images: Courtesy Highline Milano