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

Mills has not yet determined the cost of the project, says a spokesman. The company is building the development in partnership with European firms RDM/Fingen, Lamaro Appalti S.p.a., Consozio Cooperative Costruzioni, Cogeim and Centro Commerciale Cinecittà.

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