Victor Emmanuel II Monument

Name in italian : Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II

In Rome, one necessarily passes in front of this huge mass of white marble, which is far from unanimous among the Romans. The latter commonly refer to it as the «scrivania», the typewriter.

Presentation and visit

Vittoriano

The Victor Emmanuel II Monument, also known as Altar of the Fatherland or even more simply Vittoriano, was built between 1885 and 1927 to celebrate the new Italy. The country had been unified under its first king, Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy.
It backs up to Capitoline Hill. It is a marble monument in neo-classical style, whose architect was inspired by the Pergamon Altar, building of the Hellenic period of the 2nd century BC.

The steps lead to the vast steps where the tomb of the unknown soldier is located, installed here in memory of the many dead who fell during the Great War and who were never identified or who remained without burial. Above, is represented in the center the statue of the goddess Rome, with on both sides scenes illustrating the Bucolics and the Georgics of Virgil. Higher up stands the equestrian statue in gilded bronze of King Victor Emmanuel II, 12 meters high, in front of the grandiose portico with its monumental columns. On its base are represented allegories of the 14 noble cities. On the sides (the Propylaea) were placed the giant bronze quadriga that symbolize the Unity of the Homeland by Carlo Fontana on the left, and the Freedom by Paolo Bartolini on the right.

The interior houses the Central Museum of the Risorgimento and the rooms host exhibitions.

Photo gallery

Informations and map

• Accessible from Monday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm (last entrance at 6:45 pm), every Friday and Saturday from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm (last entrance 9:45 pm)
• Changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier takes place every hour
• Free admission

Sources and links

• Official website : vive.cultura.gov.it/it/vittoriano
• Wikipedia page

Map