Orion Capital Managers has announced the opening of its Aura shopping centre in the city centre of Rome.
The scheme, which is managed by Savills Larry Smith, provides 17,000 m2 of gross space over four levels including a 4,200 m2 Pam hypermarket, 60 shops, a Virgin Active gym, a Mondadori bookstore, a food court terrace with 16 restaurants and bars, all connected by footpaths and green areas. It also includes 700 parking spaces.
The project is part of the broader redevelopment programme for the Valle Aurelia district and is located a few steps from the walls of the Vatican City.
Forum Real Estate Management acts as asset manager, JLL Italia acts as exclusive agent for marketing the shopping centre.
Enrico Biffi, managing director and partner of CDS Holding, Orion's local development partner for the project, said that 'it is no coincidence that this real estate project has attracted the interest of a large European fund specialised in the retail sector like Orion Capital Managers'. 'Aura is destined to become the new reference point for urban redevelopment,' he added.
'The quality of the project, from all points of view, was the decisive factor for the decision to invest in the centre, which today is undoubtedly one of the flagships within the fund's real estate portfolio,' commented Corrado Trabacchi, investment director of Orion Capital Managers, sponsor of Aura's own fund.