Although the nearby Via Montenapoleone is considered the epicenter of the fashion industry in Milan, Via della Spiga is actually the more refined of the two streets, probably because it is narrower - due to being mostly a pedestrian street - and thus more intimate. Together with Via Montenapoleone, Via Manzoni and Corso Venezia, Via della Spiga makes up the Quadrilateral of Fashion - the district containing the most exquisite collection of boutiques, shops, cafes and designer studios on planet Earth.
There are three theories concerning the origin of the name Spiga. The first is that the word derived from the noble Spighi family, which resided in Milan in the 16th century during the reign of Duke Francesco Sforza II. Another says that the name refers to the sculpture of a spike of grain that stood next to an eatery - in Italian the word for spike in spiga. The third version says that the name derives from a plaque with Latin text that once belonged to the Ursulines of the Holy Spirit, a religious institute that had stood in the area. Spica was an anagram from the Latin word pacis, meaning peace.
Even if you are not a fashion buff or cannot afford the articles on sale, a walk down Via Spiga will definitely give you a sense of old Milan and acquaint you with the city's couture traditions. The best time is in December, when the street is decorated and illuminated for Christmas. Among the most famous brands whose shops can be found on the street are Prada, Bulgari, Tod's, Hermes, Tiffany, Krizia, Dolce & Gabbana and Roberto Cavalli.