RE: Mystery Flowering Street Tree in Rome

Alessandra and Medit-Plants people,

I was hoping that someone might know the name of a
very showy flowering tree currently in bloom in Rome,
that a colleague recently saw blooming, and was
mystified as to what it might be.  From the digital
photos, it is hard to judge size and true color of
flowers.

The flowers are in terminal clusters of 3 to 5 at
branch ends, and the petals look to be white or pale
pink, and flushed darker rose at the center, five
petals or possibly double(?) on the same tree, approx.
4 to 5 inches across.  The flowers have somewhat the
appearance of Hibscus syracus when they appear double,
and more like a H. rosa sinensis when single.

My guess is that the tree might be a Dombeya
tiliaceae, but I didn't think the flowers could be so
large.  The tree does have the typical family leaves
which are approx. 5 to 8 inches long by 3-5 inches
wide, dark green above and paler below, slightly lobed
and cordate to long acuminate. (Again, appearing much
like a Rose of Sharon tree).  I had thought that most
Dombeyas were too tropical for a mediterannean climate
such as Rome's, although a Dombeya burgessiae which I
have in my own garden in Berkeley appears quite happy
and hardy here, and is virtually never out of bloom. 
The flowers of my Dombeya are significantly smaller,
however, only 1" across in pendant clusters of 5, and
a clear pink, looking more like an Abutilon in bloom
than a Hibiscus.

Does anyone have an idea what this tree might be?  It
has smooth grey bark on the younger branches, and has
a tendency to throw up many closely spaced vertical
branches from the tree center, growing to about 30
feet tall in the photos.   


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