Galleria Umberto I

A stunning shopping arcade that sits in the center of the city, the Galleria Umberto I is an architectural beauty. Starting with the column-flanked facade in classical style, you'll be surprised when you enter the glass-domed interior of this Art Nouveau marvel.

The Galleria was built between 1887 and 1891 and was a symbol of the post-unification rebuilding of Naples. Modeled on the just-completed Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milano, it was meant to be a multi-purpose building: a covered passageway and centerpiece of the city, a space that combined shops, offices, cafes and apartments under one roof but open to the streets of Naples.

The sunny, airy interior is capped by a cross-vaulted glass dome and has four barrel vaulted glass-roofed wings. It opens to Via Toledo, one of central Naples' best known shopping streets, and the famous San Carlo Theater. Inside are shops, offices, apartments and a couple of cafes. An elegant hotel is also housed within the Galleria, with an upscale restaurant placed within the gallery's arcades, making for a romantic dining experience.

If you're in Napoli, you should wander through to admire the architecture, enjoy a cappuccino and enjoy the strains of music from a street performer that is likely to provide sweet strains for passersby.