Apple's largest European store opens in Rome's Palazzo Marignoli with restored Afro Basaldella murals

Apple has opened its largest European store in Rome, housed in the historic Palazzo Marignoli between Via del Corso and Piazza San Silvestro. The building, originally a 19th-century patrician residence built atop archaeological remains and medieval convents, underwent extensive restoration led by Italian studio Transit and international firm Norman Foster. The interior features a courtyard planted with trees from the Roman countryside, a grand staircase with a skylight, and vast ballrooms. Notably, the store preserves and restores a cycle of gestural, elegant works by Afro Basaldella on the walls, dedicated to Italian cities, along with ceiling frescoes. The space previously housed the historic Caffè Aragno (later Alemagna), a meeting place for artists and intellectuals since the late 19th century. However, the iconic 'Aragno' signs next to the windows have been removed. The store is expected to become a pilgrimage site for creatives, designers, and artists, similar to the Apple Store under Piazza del Liberty in Milan.