The Castel Romano outlet mall is designed to look like an old Roman neighborhood — except, of course, for the modern brand-name stores. (Jason Chudy / S&S)
The Castel Romano outlet mall is designed to look like an old Roman neighborhood — except, of course, for the modern brand-name stores. (Jason Chudy / S&S)
Bright colors give Fashion District outlet mall near Valmontone a Disneyland-like look. The mall has 87 stores and more on the way with another wing that's under construction. (Jason Chudy / S&S)
’Tis the season to be shopping.
There are two good places north of Naples that have plenty of adult presents, and no, neither is the North Pole.
The two are outlet malls, Castel Romano and Fashion District, and both are just south of Rome. With the holidays quickly approaching, a visit to either just might help finish off that gift list.
Castel Romano, about five miles south of the city, has a higher proportion of high-fashion — and more expensive — shops.
Its 90 small stores range from Levi’s Dockers, Nike and Timberland, to stylish Italian goods such as Bruno Magli, Dolce & Gabbana of “Sex and the City” fame, and Versace.
The mall’s offerings, according to the information pamphlet, are last year’s designs or overstocks from this year. Advertising at the mall entrance states that shoppers will save 30 percent to 70 percent off the list prices, but most of what we saw was at about the 30 percent range.
My shopping-expert wife did warn that she has seen some of the same items at the Naples Navy Exchange at lower prices.
In a handful of stores we visited, clothing was listed in both American and European sizes or had charts nearby converting one to the other, making it convenient to choose the right size.
Most of the stores at Castel Romano revolve around clothing, although there are plenty of shoes, some watches, sunglasses, kitchen items and even a Bose sound system store.
There are also a few restaurants and coffee bars. A large playground at one of the mall’s corners is thankfully next to a coffee bar, so parents with kids can take a break while their kids burn off energy.
The entrances to the outdoor mall are done in faux-castle motif, and the mall’s “ancient Roman streets” are designed in a figure-8 shaped layout, making the walk through them really easy.
Castel Romano is managed by McArthurGlen, which has 13 outlet centers throughout Europe, from England to Italy.
The second outlet mall, Fashion District, is southeast of the city along the Naples-Rome autostrada in Valmontone. It’s about a 25-minute drive from Castel Romano, but it’s on the way back to Naples, so for that reason alone it’s worth a stop.
Fashion District is a work in progress. The mall has a lot to offer, but plans are in the works to offer even more. An additional wing of stores is under construction, and by 2006 the mall plans to have its theme park and golf course open.
Until then, however, shoppers only have to deal with Fashion District’s 87 stores.
Fashion District has fewer high-end shops, and is consequently more affordable. Many of the shops aren’t household names, or at least I don’t remember them from the malls back in the States. But they offer a wide range of products, from clothing to home furnishings to stuffed animals.
There are some familiar names like Villeroy & Boch, Lee Wrangler and Sonny Bono, although the latter brings thoughts of Cher and Congress, not shopping.
Fashion District seems more casual and user-friendly than Castel Romano. Its brightly colored décor seems almost Disneyland-like in character, and its layout of alleyways running off a large main courtyard makes quick shopping forays not as overwhelming.
Plus, restaurants or snack shops at the ends of these short alleys make things go even smoother. Finally, a large coffee and pastry shop in the middle serves as a nice central place to rest between alley shopping runs.
And after a day of running back and forth, in and out of shops at the two malls, you’ll surely welcome the break.
On the QT ...
DIRECTIONS: From Naples or Gaeta, take the A1 autostrade north toward Rome. The Fashion District outlet mall is in Valmontone, a few miles south of the Roma Sud exit, on the east side of the highway. Signs lead to the mall from the tollbooth.
To get to Castel Romano, take the Roma Sud exit west on the GRA expressway, which runs around Rome, and take exit 26, Highway SS 148, Via Pontina, about three miles to the Castel Romano exit. The mall is on the right.
HOURS: Castel Romano is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Fashion Mall is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and until 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
COST: There are no entry or parking fees at the malls, but autostrada tolls from Naples to Rome run 9.80 euro each way.
FOOD: Both malls have restaurants. Castel Romano has three restaurants, and snacks are available at the coffee bars. Fashion Mall has five eateries, ranging from a central pastry shop and coffee bar to restaurants at the end of each shopping alley.
INFORMATION: Both malls have Web sites with English versions.
Fashion District’s is www.fashiondistrict.it. Castel Romano’s site, the superior of the two, is www.mcarthurglen.it
— Jason Chudy
