Rome Retail Areas

On Nov. 17th Apple began recruiting personnel for a Rome (Italy) retail store, and no doubt some construction is underway somewhere in the city. The city has two primary retail areas for international companies: the intersecting streets of Via del Corso and Via Condotti near the Spanish Steps.

Via del Corso starts at the Obelisk of the Piazza del Popolo and ends about one miles further on at the Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II. Historians say the street is 2,000 years old. Besides shops and boutiques, this north-south street in mid-Rome is home to many company offices. The Trevi Fountain is nearby, as are the Spanish Steps.

Via Condotti is one of the most elegant shopping areas of the city, with international retailers Bulgari (opened in 1905), Hermés, Cartier, Ferragamo and Battistoni. The street ends at the Spanish Steps, an attraction that virtually tourist visits once.

Thanks to Allesandro for these photos of these two areas, and several specific buildings that might eventually sport the Apple logo.

View along Via del Corso, a busy retail center.

United Colors of Benneton, at Unione Militare Palace, near the Fendi and Ferrari stores.

Another view of the Benneton store.

The entrance to Benneton, showing the escalator to the upper floors.

Notice the building architecture: arches, balconies, window shutters and things over windows.

Another possible location--in the area around the Plaza Hotel.

Still another location--the former Addidas store, which features slightly more modern architecture.

The former Addidas store looks like was once a bank.

View of the other side of the former Addidas store.

Another possibility--along Via Condotti, near the Spanish Steps. You may recall Chevy Chase and family visiting a clothing store on this street in a scene from "European Vacation."

The large MaxMara clothing store along the Via Condotti. Also check these photos on a travel Web site.

Thanks to Ian for this view of Via Condotti from the top of the Spanish Steps. The street is jammed with people. About four blocks down, Via Condotti intersects with Via del Corso, the other main shopping street.