History in Brief
From Decision to Construction (1878–1911)
The Vittoriano was born from a parliamentary decision taken in 1878, just days after the death of Italy's first king, Victor Emanuel II. The construction of a national monument in his memory was intended to mark the young nation and celebrate the completion of Italian unity — Rome had only become the capital in 1871.
The project was entrusted in 1884 to architect Giuseppe Sacconi, who won the international competition with a design inspired by the Acropolis in Athens: colonnades, monumental stairways, classical proportions. The marble chosen was Botticino from Brescia, a warm white very different from the travertine of papal Rome — a political as much as an aesthetic choice.
Construction lasted from 1885 to 1911. Sacconi died in 1905 without seeing the building completed. The inauguration took place on 4 June 1911 in the presence of King Victor Emanuel III, marking the 50th anniversary of Italian unity.
The Unknown Soldier (1921)
The First World War transformed the meaning of the Vittoriano. The monument celebrating the Risorgimento became also a place of national mourning. On 4 November 1921, after a solemn ceremony in Aquileia in which Maria Bergamas chose one coffin from eleven — each from a different battlefield — the body of the Unknown Soldier was transported by train across Italy and buried in the Vittoriano's crypt. The Eternal Flame has burned there ever since.
Fascism and the Republic
Inaugurated in 1911, the Vittoriano was quickly appropriated by Fascist rhetoric. Mussolini moved to Palazzo Venezia in 1929 and Piazza Venezia became the stage for mass rallies. The Republic (1946) gradually restored the monument's commemorative function without the regime's connotations. The 1997 restoration — reopening the Terrace of the Quadrigas — marked the beginning of a new popular legitimacy.
Architecture and Iconography
The Façade
The main façade opens onto Piazza Venezia with a sequence of Corinthian columns, stairways, fountains and bas-reliefs. The 16 base bas-reliefs represent Italy's principal cities. The 16 lateral fountains represent the rivers of Italy. The attic statues portray the Italian regions.
At the top, two bronze quadrigas (by Fontana and Bartlett) dominate the building. Twelve metres tall, they were made using the lost-wax technique and were originally gilded. They represent the Unity and Liberty of Italy.
At the centre, the equestrian statue of Victor Emanuel II (12 metres; the horse alone is 10 m) is one of the largest equestrian sculptures in the modern world.
The Crypt and Memorial Museum
On the ground floor, the Crypt of the Unknown Soldier holds the tomb of the unknown soldier. The perpetual flame burns day and night. Two soldiers in full dress uniform stand guard and alternate every hour in a silent, precise ceremony. It is the most sacred place of Italian civic life.
Adjacent to the crypt is the Memorial Museum, a small collection of objects related to the First World War and the cult of the Unknown Soldier.
The Risorgimento Museum
On the intermediate level, the Central Museum of the Risorgimento (founded 1906) retraces the process of Italian unification from the Congress of Vienna (1815) to the capture of Rome (1870). The collection includes autograph letters by Mazzini, uniforms of the Thousand, documentary photographs, weapons and medals.
Practical Information
Access and Tickets
| Area | Cost | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Staircase and external piazza | Free | Always |
| Crypt and Eternal Flame | Free | 09:30–19:30 (Mon–Sun) |
| Risorgimento Museum | Free | 09:30–19:30 (Mon–Sun) |
| Terrace of the Quadrigas | ~€7 | 09:30–19:30 (Tue–Sun) |
The Terrace of the Quadrigas is closed on Mondays. Hours may vary by season and on national ceremony days.
Getting There
- Bus: routes 40, 62, 63, 64, 70, 87, 492, tram 8 — stop Piazza Venezia
- Metro: no direct line. The nearest is B (Colosseo, 15 minutes on foot)
- On foot: 15 minutes from the Pantheon, 20 minutes from the Colosseum, 10 minutes from Campo de' Fiori
- Car: not recommended — limited traffic zone
Practical Tips
- Arrive early in the morning (09:30) to avoid queues for the terrace and for the best photographic light
- The complete visit (crypt + museum + terrace) takes approximately 1.5–2 hours
- No food may be consumed inside the monument
- Bring water, especially in summer: the external staircase is exposed to full sun
- Flash photography is prohibited during the changing of the guard
The View from the Terrace of the Quadrigas
The view from the Terrace is one of Rome's most complete panoramic points. At 360°:
- East: Via dei Fori Imperiali, Fora of Caesar and Augustus, the Colosseum
- North: Pantheon, Pincio, Villa Borghese, dome of Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza
- West: the dome of St Peter's (~3 km), Castel Sant'Angelo
- South: Aventine, Palatine, the Castelli Romani on the horizon
It is the only point from which the Roman Forum, the Colosseum and the dome of St Peter's are simultaneously visible.
Ceremonies and Institutional Life
The Vittoriano is the centre of the Republic's principal ceremonies:
- 4 November (National Unity Day): wreath-laying by the President of the Republic
- 2 June (Republic Day): floral ceremony at the Unknown Soldier
- 25 April (Liberation Day): official ceremony
- Visits by heads of state: the Vittoriano is the first stop of Italian diplomatic protocol
With a Private Driver
Reach the Vittoriano with a private driver. From your hotel, airport or station — direct and on time. Service from €49. → Book at myromedriver.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Vittoriano called the "typewriter"? The column-lined façade resembles typewriter keys, and the white profile evokes the Olivetti machines of the 1950s. The nickname appeared among the Roman public from the 1920s onward.
How long does a visit take? A quick visit (staircase + Eternal Flame) takes 20–30 minutes. A full visit with museum and terrace takes 1.5–2 hours.
Is it free? Access to most of the monument is free. Only the Terrace of the Quadrigas costs ~€7.
When is the best time to visit? Early morning for the best light and shortest queues. The blue hour in the evening (20–30 minutes after sunset) is excellent for exterior photography.
Why is the Unknown Soldier buried here rather than elsewhere? The Vittoriano was chosen for its function as a monument to the nation: the Unknown Soldier represents all the fallen without distinction, and the Vittoriano is the most universal symbol of the Italian state.
Article no. 200 — TIER S — MON-10 Altar of the Fatherland / Vittoriano Type: COMPLETE GUIDE Words: ~1060