Galleria Umberto I

Enjoy a delicious gelato ice cream or a coffee in a café and watch tourists, office workers and fashionable students as they pass through the Galleria Umberto I, one of Naples’ most impressive public spaces.

The public shopping gallery is named after King Umberto I who was on the throne when the gallery was built in 1891. It’s opposite the San Carlo Theatre and is known primarily for its impressive 19th-century architecture. Galleria Umberto I is the building that Naples looked to as it strove to rebuild itself to a more spacious and elaborate design after World War II.

Step inside the sense of space and light created by the vaulted glass ceiling is mesmerizing. At its highest point the ceiling is 184 feet (56 metres) above the ground, with 16 iron ribs holding it in place. The symmetrical arches of the upper floors add to the sense of grandeur, while beneath your feet a stunning mosaic of the zodiac spans out from the gallery’s central point.

The lower floor is packed with shops, cafés and restaurants. Browse for fashion bargains in one of the many boutique stores before stopping for a pizza or coffee in a traditional Neapolitan cafe. Take a seat and imagine the scene as it would have looked at the turn of the 20th century, bustling with traders and businessmen.

The spacious centre of the gallery often hosts concerts, art exhibitions and fashion shows. If an event coincides with your visit, don’t miss the chance to see all the activity in one of Naples’ most impressive venues.

Galleria Umberto I is located in the east of the city, a few blocks from the port on the Via San Carlo. Routes 1, 2 and 3 on the Azienda Napoletana Mobilità (ANM) buses all serve the gallery. The gallery is open daily with many of the cafés and restaurants staying open late into the night.