Mills first foreign development, the 1.4 million-sf MadridXanadu, opened last year in Spain, and the firm's Vaughan Mills, insuburban Toronto, also at 1.4 million sf, opened at the beginningof this month. Mills has been looking for additional sites in Italyand Spain for years. "Rome has long been a target market for us,"says Ronald Weidner, the company's head of internationaloperations, in a statement. "This project signals the next phase ofour dynamic European growth strategy."

Mills has not yet determined the cost of the project, says aspokesman. The company is building the development in partnershipwith European firms RDM/Fingen, Lamaro Appalti S.p.a., ConsozioCooperative Costruzioni, Cogeim and Centro CommercialeCinecittà.

Mills officials did not name any official tenants but said thatMercati Generali will be home to 100 specialty and fashion tenants.The development will also include offices, a high-tech publicresearch library, a recreation area called the Modern Baths and apublic square called the Recinto, with art galleries andmarkets.