Mercato: An architectural highlight

DUBAI has so many shopping malls but there is one that appeals to me.

Mercato Shopping Mall is a shopping centre in Jumeirah - around 45 minutes by Metro train from my second home in Muhaisnah 3.

Designed to look like a Mediterranean town during the European Renaissance in Italy, France, or Spain, Mercato is a medium sized shopping mall on Jumeira Beach Road near the Jumeirah mosque and Dubai Zoo.

Being one of the most attractive malls in Dubai, Mercato blends the grandeur of a European train station with the playfulness of an Italian palazzo. With soaring murals and an arched glass ceiling, it is fun wandering among the brick colonnades.

Its compact size makes shopping less overwhelming than other mega-structured malls. It's Italian name means "market" and proves to be one with around 120 shops and facilities that include a selection of cafes, a small food court that houses the popular McDonald's and KFC, fashion shops, a Spinneys supermarket, and cinema complex. Internationally known stores such as Armani, Cerrutti, Hugo Boss, Mango, Massimo Dutti, Nine West, and Topshop are here, and a Virgin music store stocked with the latest music and games. There are some interesting carpet and curio shops.

On the first floor is the Porto Vecchio Village where you can walk on cobblestoned paths - a feel of being in a bustling village marketplace in Italy, so they say.

From the looks of people inside Mercato, it seems to be a favorite hangout for the young and wealthy, mostly tourists.

There's more to just stress-free shopping here, the giant glass ceiling gives a refreshingly open and tranquil feel for a homesick overseas worker like me.