The Vittoriano and Fascism
The Vittoriano was inaugurated in 1911, eight years before the rise of Fascism. When Mussolini came to power in 1922, the already-existing monument became one of the most exploited venues of regime propaganda.
Piazza Venezia became the symbolic heart of Mussolini's Rome. From the balcony of Palazzo Venezia, directly facing the Vittoriano, Mussolini delivered his most famous speeches: the declaration of war on Greece (1940), the declaration of war on the United States and Great Britain (1941), the announcement of the invasion of Ethiopia (1935). The crowd in the square, with the Vittoriano as backdrop, was an essential part of the staging.
The Fascist regime appropriated the Risorgimento symbolism of the Vittoriano, reinterpreting Italian Unification as a prefiguration of Italy's "imperial destiny". The Flame of the Unknown Soldier — lit in 1921 — became a central ritualistic element in Fascist liturgy.
25 July 1943 and the Fall of the Regime
On 25 July 1943, following the vote of the Fascist Grand Council that sealed Mussolini's fall, Rome witnessed scenes of rejoicing. Some of the first spontaneous demonstrations took place in Piazza Venezia itself, beneath the now-empty palace windows. The Vittoriano stood as a silent witness to the transition.
The Republic and the Vittoriano
With the birth of the Italian Republic (1946), the Vittoriano was stripped of its most explicit monarchical connotations but neither demolished nor redesigned. The Unknown Soldier — already a symbol of the nation rather than the king — became the central reference of the Republican monument.
4 November (National Unity and Armed Forces Day) and 2 June (Republic Day) became the two principal ceremonies at the Vittoriano. In both, the President of the Republic — rather than the king — lays the wreath at the Shrine of the Unknown Soldier.
The Restoration and Reopening (1997)
After decades of partial closure, the Vittoriano underwent a major restoration in the 1990s. In 1997, the Terrace of Quadrigas was reopened to the public via panoramic lift — and the monument found a new life as a site open to popular enjoyment, not merely an official ceremonial venue.
The opening of the terrace transformed the public perception of the Vittoriano: from controversial symbol to accessible panorama, the monument gained a popular legitimacy it had never previously enjoyed.
The Vittoriano Today
Today the Vittoriano serves multiple functions:
- Memorial: the Flame, the changing of the guard, the ceremonies of 4 November and 2 June
- Museum: the Central Risorgimento Museum documents the nineteenth century
- Exhibition space: the internal halls host temporary exhibitions of various kinds, often free
- Belvedere: the Terrace of Quadrigas is acknowledged as the finest view in Rome
Romans' relationship with the Vittoriano has changed: no longer merely an unwelcome "typewriter", it is now a place used, photographed and frequented — a living contradiction, like the history it represents.
With a Private Driver
Reach the Vittoriano by private driver. From your hotel, airport or station — direct and on time. Service from €49. → Book at myromedriver.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Fascism modify the Vittoriano structurally? No, there are no significant structural modifications attributable to the Fascist regime. Its propagandistic use was essentially symbolic and ritual, not architectural.
When is the most solemn time to visit the Vittoriano? On 4 November, National Unity Day, with the presidential ceremony at the Shrine of the Unknown Soldier. Some areas may be temporarily closed to the public.
Article no. 191 — TIER S — MON-10 Altare della Patria / Vittoriano Type: HISTORICAL Words: ~590