Altare della Patria

Rome, Italy

The Altare della Patria, also known as the National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II, is a monument built in honor of Victor Emmanuel, the first king of a unified Italy.

The eclectic structure was designed by Giuseppe Sacconi in 1885; sculpture for it was parceled out to established sculptors all over Italy, such as Leonardo Bistolfi and Angelo Zanelli. It was inaugurated in 1911 and completed in 1925.

The Vittoriano features stairways, Corinthian columns, fountains, an equestrian sculpture of Victor Emmanuel and two statues of the goddess Victoria riding on quadrigas. The base of the structure houses the museum of Italian Unification. In 2007, a panoramic lift was added to the structure, allowing visitors to ride up to the roof for 360-degree views of Rome.

The monument holds the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with an eternal flame, built under the statue of goddess Roma after World War I following an idea of General Giulio Douhet.

The monument, the largest in Rome, was controversial since its construction destroyed a large area of the Capitoline Hill with a Medieval neighbourhood for its sake. The monument itself is often regarded as conspicuous, pompous and too large.

References:

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 1885-1925
Category: Statues in Italy

More Information

en.wikipedia.org
www.rome.net

Rating

4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Kasey Raia Stout (2 years ago)
This is beautiful!! It is also free unless you want to pay 12€ to ride the elevator up to the very top. Even on the top free level, the views are spectacular! It was also really neat to see the tomb of the unknown soldier here being guarded. This is definitely worth the stop while you're in Rome. It's very close to the Colosseum and Roman Forum. There is also a little cafe at the top as well, a nice spot to take a rest and enjoy a drink.
Alexander Nachef (2 years ago)
Absolutely breathtaking view from the outside. A beautiful structure to see and walk along. The inside doesn't have very much so don't pay to see the inside little "museum". Also I have not been up the elevator to the top to see the views it promise so I can't say if it's worth it or not. But just seeing this place is worth it enough! Beautiful spot
Andrew “Ando” Murden (2 years ago)
This place is definitely a place you need to visit. Its so grand and should be viewed both in the day time and night. They call it the wedding cake building as a nickname. If you head to the rear of the building you can head up to some of the high points of the building depending if its open to the public. Definitely a bucket list item while in Rome.
Eleni Iak (2 years ago)
From above you see Rome 360°. Amazing view. It has a big picture on it that explains what everything is around you. The elevator ride is €12 and children are free. With the elevator voucher you enter the museum area for free. This building has a unique architecture. Remarkable...
Culinary Slut (2 years ago)
This monument is absolutely stunning! Most of it is outdoors and it’s free to visit. Massive imperial marble stairs take you by stunning statuary and passed a touching Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier memorial. The stairs take visitors quite a way up offering magnificent views of the city with a great perspective on the coliseum. At the top is a cafe and bar with some seating that allows you to linger over the view. For a few you can go even higher and take an elevator to a panoramic view point. On the way out you’ll go indoors for a while where you can find public washrooms and some galleries.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Jan Hus Memorial

The Jan Hus Memorial stands at one end of Old Town Square. The huge monument depicts victorious Hussite warriors and Protestants who were forced into exile 200 years after Hus, and a young mother who symbolises national rebirth. The monument was so large that the sculptor designed and built his own villa and studio where the work could be carried out. It was unveiled in 1915 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Jan Hus' martyrdom. The memorial was designed by Ladislav Šaloun and paid for solely by public donations.

Born in 1369, Hus became an influential religious thinker, philosopher, and reformer in Prague. He was a key predecessor to the Protestant movement of the sixteenth century. In his works he criticized religious moral decay of the Catholic Church. Accordingly, the Czech patriot Hus believed that mass should be given in the vernacular, or local language, rather than in Latin. He was inspired by the teachings of John Wycliffe.