| p>The historic network of laneways and arcades in | | | | Streets with the Bourke Street Mall. It is a distinctive |
| Melbourne is as close as you will get to Italy in the | | | | Victorian Arcade with high glass roof and windowed |
| southern hemisphere- and not just for Melbourne | | | | stores filled with fashion and specialty shops |
| shopping. They embody a life style, café | | | | These two are only the most famous intimate |
| culture, and an interesting mix between Armani suits | | | | Melbourne shopping spots. The city block between |
| and graffiti, boutiques and foccacias. | | | | Collins, Swanston and Elizabeth Streets and Bourke |
| While Melbourne is known as fashion capital, it is | | | | Street Mall is permeated with lanes and arcades. |
| cherished for its atmosphere of its lanes and arcades. | | | | - Between Collins and Little Collins Streets is Australia |
| They are filled with cafes, intimate boutiques, designer | | | | on Collins and Collins two3four connecting to Howey |
| fashion, and exotic shops selling anything from | | | | Place, all lined with small designer and fashion shops. |
| chocolates to games. | | | | - Between Little Collins Street and Bourke Street Mall, |
| A typical image is that of a dimly lit lane with people | | | | you will find the Walk Arcade and Centrepoint Mall. On |
| sitting under marquees sipping coffee with a Vespa | | | | the other side of Elizabeth Street is the Galleria |
| (Italian scooter) parked on the corner. | | | | Shopping Plaza. |
| - Degraves Lane & Centre Place are some of | | | | - Cathedral Arcade is in the historic Nicholas Building in |
| the narrow laneways in the heart of the city that run | | | | Swanston Street opposite the St Pauls Cathedral. The |
| off Flinders Lane between Elizabeth and Swanston | | | | Nicholas Building is home to many Melbourne designers |
| Streets - and that are lined with cafes. I think of them | | | | and artists and it is residence to many eclectic and |
| as the heart of Melbourne's intimate city life - places | | | | unique shops. |
| that nurture the soul, a hang out for locals and a feast | | | | - Hardware Lane is the place for romantic laneway |
| for the senses. | | | | dining, live jazz and Mediterranean food - all under the |
| - On the other side of Collins Street, the Block Arcade, | | | | canopy of marquees and umbrellas. It runs parallel to |
| built in the 1890s, takes you back to the money, style | | | | Elizabeth Street, between Bourke and Little Lonsdale |
| and abundance of the gold rush heydays. It connects | | | | Streets, on the Queen Street side. |
| to Elizabeth and Little Collins Streets with iron-lace | | | | - Market, Crossley and Liverpool Streets, in the upper |
| walkways elaborate Italian mosaic floors and | | | | city end, are small streets between Bourke and Little |
| impressive glass dome ceilings. It bears its name from | | | | Bourke Streets. They are insider tips for fine wining |
| the tradition of "doing the block" and parading ones | | | | and dining with a number of chic restaurants and some |
| fashion around the most fashionable Melbourne block. It | | | | of the finest specialty boutiques. |
| has some of the most exclusive specialty shops in | | | | It is easy to miss the intimate lanes and arcades if you |
| Melbourne. | | | | are on a quick Melbourne shopping trip - but without |
| - The Royal Arcade, built in 1869, is even older than the | | | | exploring these, you have only just scratched the |
| Block Arcade. It connects Little Collins and Elizabeth | | | | surface of this fascinating city. |