Via Monte Napoleone: Symbol of Italian Style

The history of Via Monte Napoleone is first and foremost that of Italy itself. Following the path of ancient Roman walls along the bed of the river Seveso, Via Monte Napoleone is one of the primary thoroughfares of Italian fashion. Its name is owed first to Monte Camerale di Santa Teresa, abbreviated to Monte, a bank closed in 1786. At the dawning of the bourgeois revolution, the Milanese aristocrats, despite only accounting for 9% of the population, decided that Milan needed more space. Previously occupying two-thirds of the city, a number of convents and cloisters were thus transformed into boutiques in the 19th century. The great names in jewelry began to flourish on Via Monte Napoleone, notably Buscellati.

The Quadrilatero della Moda would take on the international renown it enjoys today when the Monte bank reopened in 1804 under the name Monte Napoleone, giving the street its current name. Almost all of the buildings on this street were reconstructed in a neoclassical style during the Napoleonic Wars throughout the first half of the 19th century. Via Monte Napoleone would then become the street for antique shops, tailors, and suppliers to royal courts before opening definitively up to fashion and international business in the 50s. The couturier Biki would dress Maria Callas, the Opera Diva, here while Bettina Rossi Arts Rosa would spread lace – celebrities and the media would all rush to new goings on at Monte Napoleone.

Today, all the big names in fashion are present and accounted for. Bulgari, Burberry, Cartier, Celine, Pucci… This street is synonymous with wealth, good taste, and elegance. The primary entry for great stylists into the fashion world, the windows of Via Monte Napoleone are the reflection of the exquisite taste and ancestral craftsmanship that have given Milan its talent and reputation. An emblem of style and beauty, Bottega Veneta, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Dior all welcome clients from around the world who want to admire and acquire a piece of Italian refinement for themselves here.