From the iconic Galleria to the glamorous Fashion District, a closer look at the places where The Devil Wears Prada 2 was filmed in Milan.
The choice of Milan as the setting for many of the The Devil Wears Prada 2 Milan locations, following the Paris scenes of the original film, feels particularly well judged. Why? Because Milan is uniquely suited to convey an image of fashion that is both glamorous and refined. The locations selected for the film reflect this perfectly, combining a more opulent, visibly striking elegance with a quieter, very refined kind of beauty, often shaped by the city’s artistic heritage.
Galleria — as iconic as it gets
If there’s one place in Milan that doesn’t need much help to look cinematic, it’s the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
Even in the trailer for The Devil Wears Prada 2, Miranda appears in the Galleria at night — which is, frankly, when it looks its best. With the crowds gone, this iconic space becomes even more striking. Rooted in Milan’s history, the Galleria — which was always meant to impress — was built in the 19th century and dedicated to Italy’s first king.
Its grand, breath-taking architecture is paired with the glamour of some of the most iconic fashion boutiques in the city, all lining its arcades: opulence and glamour, both in its architecture and in its fashion.
Palazzo di Brera — where art lives
The Runway fashion show of the film is set in the Brera palace, one of Milan’s most elegant and culturally significant spaces. The scene was initially planned for a more obvious location, but Brera was ultimately chosen for the privacy it offered the cast and crew — and, quite possibly, because it made it easier to keep a certain cameo under wraps.
It’s not difficult to see why. The porticoed courtyard of the Palazzo di Brera, with its arcades and columns, is one of the most striking architectural spaces in the city: grand without being overwhelming, and perfectly suited to a setting where fashion and atmosphere need to coexist.
And just beyond it, the Brera district itself remains one of Milan’s most charming and artistic areas.
Where:
Via Brera 28, Milan
Fashion District — where else?
It’s easy to see why the The Devil Wears Prada 2 Milan locations include the Fashion District. Centred around Via Monte Napoleone, with streets like Via della Spiga and Via Sant’Andrea extending the same atmosphere, this is not just a shopping district — it’s where fashion is part of everyday life. And in a film where fashion isn’t just decoration but the whole point, this iconic setting could hardly be left out.
It is, of course, also one of the most exciting shopping areas in the city — just with prices that, alas!, tend to match the surroundings.
Palazzo Parigi — that amazing staircase!
One of the first clues to this version of Milan appears even before the film begins. The official poster shows Miranda, Andrea and Nigel on the steps of an opulent white marble staircase.
In Milan, that kind of grandeur isn’t difficult to place. Palazzo Parigi, the five-star hotel on Corso di Porta Nuova, is known for exactly this sort of aesthetic: sweeping staircases, generous spaces, and interiors that look like they’re waiting for something really special to happen.
It’s also where the cast stayed during filming, and the hotel’s majestic lobby appears in some scenes the film itself.
Where:
Palazzo Parigi Hotel & Grand Spa
Corso di Porta Nuova 1, Milan
www.palazzoparigi.com
Palazzo Clerici — art and aristocracy
Palazzo Clerici is also among the locations used in the film, and it adds a very different kind of setting to Milan’s visual landscape. Once the residence of an influential aristocratic family, it was, in the 18th century, one of the city’s most lavish and prestigious homes.
The highlight is the grand gallery on the Piano Nobile, decorated in 1741 by Giambattista Tiepolo. His fresco, with its dramatic illusionistic ceiling, draws the eye upward to a vivid mythological scene, where figures and allegories unfold around the striking image of the chariot of the sun.
It’s not always open to the public, but it can occasionally be visited during special openings organised by Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI), which gives access to some of the city’s most remarkable historic spaces.
Where:
Via Clerici 5, Milan
www.ispionline.it
Villa Arconati — breath-taking opulence
Just outside Milan, Villa Arconati offers a very different kind of setting — often described as the “Versailles of Milan”, and not without reason. Built in the 17th century and expanded in the 18th, the villa reflects a vision of prestige and cultural ambition, shaped by both Italian and French influences.
This balance is visible not only in the gardens, but also in the architecture and interiors, where grandeur is expressed with a distinctly theatrical touch. The monumental staircase — seen in the trailer as Miranda descends with her signature composure — leads to the Piano Nobile, setting the tone for what follows.
Several scenes unfold here, including moments in the courtyard and within the villa itself, where the atmosphere shifts from formal to almost cinematic. One of the most striking spaces is the Sala di Fetonte, where illusionistic frescoes transform the room into a mythological narrative inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Without going into too much detail, it’s the kind of setting that naturally lends itself to a film built on image, presence, and carefully staged moments.
In The Devil Wears Prada 2, Villa Arconati is also used as the backdrop for a high-profile event, placing Miranda and Andy in an environment that feels deliberately larger than life — and entirely in keeping with the film’s aesthetic.
Where:
Via Fametta 1
Castellazzo di Bollate
www.villaarconati-far.it
Villa Balbiano — Lake Como, naturally
On the western shore of Lake Como, Villa Balbiano is one more of the film’s unapologetically glamorous settings.
Originally built in the late 16th century as the residence of Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio and later transformed into a refined social hub, the villa has retained that sense of grandeur over time. Today, it remains one of the most impressive private residences on the lake, with interiors filled with art and historic furnishings, and gardens that reflect its long-standing connection to a certain idea of Italian elegance.
In The Devil Wears Prada 2, it becomes the setting for one of the film’s most visually striking moments — including the now rather iconic arrival of Andy and Emily by speedboat, cutting across the lake with the villa in the background.
And it makes perfect sense. For Milanese residents, Lake Como has long been the go-to escape for a weekend out of the city, a place where the pace slows down but the sense of style doesn’t. It’s also, famously, a favourite among international celebrities — many of whom have chosen to make it their home.
Where:
Piazza Cardinale Durini
Ossuccio (Como)
This post was all about The Devil Wears Prada 2 Milan locations — and the version of the city they bring to life, one that feels deliberate, stylish, and unmistakably Milanese.
Credit photos (Duomo and Galleria): Pexels