Apple's Naples, Italy, iOS app development center opens, shown off in new photos

Classes at Apple's first European training academy at the University of Naples Federico II's San Giovanni campus in Italy have commenced, with 200 students in attendance. Here are some photos of the center, created in partnership with Apple.

AppleInsider reader Gerardo was on hand at a party celebrating the opening of the modernized part of the campus hosting the Apple training facility.

The Guardian visited the center in the days leading up to the launch.

"Europe is home to some of the most creative developers in the world and we're thrilled to be helping the next generation of entrepreneurs in Italy get the skills they need for success," said Apple CEO Tim Cook when the initiative was launched in January. "The phenomenal success of the App Store is one of the driving forces behind the more than 1.4 million jobs Apple has created in Europe and presents unlimited opportunities for people of all ages and businesses of all sizes across the continent."

The partnership between Apple and the University of Naples allows the nine-month curriculum to be offered free to all accepted into the program. In the first wave, 4000 applied, with 200 allowed to attend.

Besides just courseware, all 200 students at the iOS Developer Academy receive an iPhone, iPad and a Macbook. The program will expand to 400 students in 2017.