Macitynet has posted a gallery of the grand opening of the Apple Store at ROMAEST mall, the first Apple Retail Store in mainland Europe.

“This morning a huge number of fans, probably around 800 coming from all around Italy (and from other European countries) formed a long queue, first ouside the mall entrance in a parking lot, and then just out the store entrance, patiently waiting for the doors to open,” Macitynet reports.

“After the countdown went to zero, the Apple Store employees lined up in a row cheered customers coming inside,” Macitynet reports. “The store gave away 1000 commemorative T-shirts – running out of them within the first hour.”

View the gallery here.

LoopRumors offered live coverage of the event in Rome. View the photo and video updates here.

Apple Store, Roma Est info: http://www.apple.com/it/retail/romaest/