Want to buy a Fendi bag, see an ancient Roman aqueduct, browse Italy’s best design brands and have a Campari all in the same building? Meet Rinascente, Rome’s new (well, newly reopened) department store.

Rome’s answer to Harvey Nicks or Selfridges, the reopening of the popular Italian department store has been a long time coming, after the closure of its Via del Corso branch 11 years ago. The 14,000-sqm store is spread out over eight floors, including a beautiful rooftop terrace and four restaurants, smoothie bar, chocolate bar, and elegant Aqua di Parma beauty counter.

Brands like Alessi, Kartell and Smeg dominate the basement with a display of all things beautiful and Italian design. Which brings me to the aqueduct, Aqua Virgo Aqueduct, one of Rome’s oldest engineering masterpieces dating to 19 BC, on display and uncovered during the building’s 11 years of construction and restoration works.

Beautiful light display installation on the ancient brickwork of the Roman aqueduct dating back to 19BC.

Where? Via del Tritone 61
On the Via Due Macelli corner of Via del Tritone.

Who? Just about every luxury design brand, and not just Italian brands, there’s a Stella McCartney concession, YSL shoe wall, and Christian Louboutin make up.

Louis Vuitton has a shop within a shop that takes up two storeys and is known as il Palazzetto, and is the original main structure of the building dating back to the early 1900s, essentially a palace within the palace.

Official website: Rinascente on Via del Tritone

Rome wasn’t built in a day. These are the stats:

14,000 square metres

96 windows

1800 days of renovation

800 brands