Apple Planning to Open Flagship Store in Milan, Italy

Monday January 9, 2017 12:53 PM PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple is planning to open a flagship retail store underneath Piazza del Liberty, or Liberty Square, in Milan, the most populous metropolitan area in Italy, according to preliminary guidelines approved by the city's planning department last month.

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Render of planned flagship Apple Store in Milan, Italy

The retail store will be developed by architecture firm Foster and Partners, who have partnered with Apple for several of its flagship retail stores around the world and its upcoming Campus 2 headquarters in Cupertino, California.

The location is expected to be "one of the most innovative and technological Apple Stores in the world," and it will include an above-ground amphitheater where Apple plans to host at least eight public events of cultural significance per year.

The amphitheater will "represent the heart of the square," with steps leading to an intermediate level between the square and the underlying store. An elevator will be included at the plaza level to ensure the store is fully accessible.

A large glass screen made from a waterfall will mark the entrance to the store, which will take over the space currently occupied by Apollo Spazio Cinema. No timeline was outlined for completion of the project.

apple-store-kunming-china
Apple's upcoming store in Kunming, China

In related news, Apple today announced it will open its next store in Kunming, China on January 21 at 10:00 a.m. local time.

(Thanks, setteBIT and Storeteller!)

Related Roundup: Apple Stores
Tags: China, Italy
23 comments

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DailySlow
37 months ago

You need an iconic fashion location , mega sales potential or sweet tax deal. What's NZ got? ;)


HOBBITS!
Rating: 4 Votes
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Josh_NZ
37 months ago

You need an iconic fashion location , mega sales potential or sweet tax deal. What's NZ got? ;)

Haha! Touche! My main grievance is the fact that there are smaller cities than Auckland in the world that do have an Apple store, and yet we still dont.
In all fairness, we have Gucci, Dior, Tiffany, Louis Vuitton, H&M, TopShop, Swarovski, Coach, Rodd & Gunn, Hugo Boss, Prada, and others... New Zealand also has pretty sweet tax incentives for off-shore companies and an apparently 'booming' economy with all of Apple's target market having a somewhat flush amount of disposable income.
We were one of the first countries to have an online Apple Store, yet now we are one of (two?) that have an online shop with no physical store. Presently our only option is to fly internationally to Australia (4hours each way at $450+ return) to have the privilege of seeing the magical people in blue shirts.
Rating: 1 Votes
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MH01
37 months ago

Haha! Touche! My main grievance is the fact that there are smaller cities than Auckland in the world that do have an Apple store, and yet we still dont.
In all fairness, we have Gucci, Dior, Tiffany, Louis Vuitton, H&M, TopShop, Swarovski, Coach, Rodd & Gunn, Hugo Boss, Prada, and others... New Zealand also has pretty sweet tax incentives for off-shore companies and an apparently 'booming' economy with all of Apple's target market having a somewhat flush amount of disposable income.
We were one of the first countries to have an online Apple Store, yet now we are one of (two?) that have an online shop with no physical store. Presently our only option is to fly internationally to Australia (4hours each way at $450+ return) to have the privilege of seeing the magical people in blue shirts.


I think that is ridiculous . Canberra of all places has a store! Mind you that was chosen based on the average income , kinda sad. NZ should have a physical store.
Rating: 1 Votes
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profets
37 months ago

Do you have a collection of Hard Rock Cafe T-shirts, as well?


Do you have anything worthwhile to add on the topic, or do you just add to the useless noise that seems to fill MacRumors lately?
Rating: 1 Votes
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weckart
37 months ago

Not sure if that's what they meant, but I am curious what they meant by "the most populous metropolitan area in Italy".


I think this sheds some light on it: Approx 8m people, so not surprising that the glitterati in and around Milan are getting a flagship store.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milan_metropolitan_area
Rating: 1 Votes
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truskino
37 months ago
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Rating: 1 Votes
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MH01
37 months ago

And yet, still none in New Zealand even though we are on first round release for most hardware and software

....waiting


You need an iconic fashion location , mega sales potential or sweet tax deal. What's NZ got? ;)
Rating: 1 Votes
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cics
37 months ago
living in Milan myself, I cannot wait for it. There are already 2 flagship stores serving the metropolitan areas, but they are in 2 shopping malls quite far from the city center.
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I wonder when it'll be ready. I'm going to be in Milan in April, would love to see it.

Not sure if that's what they meant, but I am curious what they meant by "the most populous metropolitan area in Italy".


I don't think will be ready by April. I have been to that place before xmas and didn't see anything but a xmas market.
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You need an iconic fashion location , mega sales potential or sweet tax deal. What's NZ got? ;)


If you take out "fashion", iconic location perfectly described NZ. I have been to New Zealand for a trip and it's definitely the best country I've ever visited so far. It's breathtaking!
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