Medieval and Renaissance Origins
The square takes its name from the Palazzo Venezia, built from 1455 for the Venetian cardinal Pietro Barbo, who later became Pope Paul II. It was one of the first Renaissance palaces in Rome: surrounded by crenellated walls with a tower that dominated the neighbourhood, it looked more like a fortress than a residence.
The palace served as a papal residence and then as the property of the Venetian Republic (hence the name), which used it as its embassy to the Holy See. In 1916 it was confiscated by the Italian state.
The Palazzo Bonaparte (or Palazzo Torlonia), at the north-west corner of the square, dates to the seventeenth century. From its balcony, Napoleon's mother Letizia spent her final years watching passersby from the window — giving rise to the Roman nickname "la muta" (the mute one) of the square.
The Demolitions of the Late Nineteenth Century
The construction of the Vittoriano, begun in 1885, entailed the demolition of an entire medieval quarter that had developed at the foot of the Capitoline Hill over the preceding centuries. Lost in the process were:
- The Tower of Paul III (16th century)
- Numerous Renaissance and medieval buildings
- The convent of the Aracoeli on the lower part of the hill
The square took its current form with the opening of the Vittoriano in 1911, but transformations continued under Fascism.
Piazza Venezia and Fascism
Mussolini moved his residence and office to Palazzo Venezia in 1929. From the balcony on the right side of the building he delivered his most celebrated speeches to the vast crowds assembled in the square:
- 3 October 1935: announcement of the invasion of Ethiopia
- 10 June 1940: declaration of war on France and England
- August 1941: declaration of war on the United States
The square became the regime's liturgical space: rallies were organised to fill the entire area visually, with the crowd extending along Via dei Fori Imperiali (inaugurated in 1932).
The Architecture of the Square Today
The square is bounded by:
Vittoriano (south side): the main façade, 135 metres wide, with the monumental stairways and two quadrigas at the top.
Palazzo Venezia (west side): a fifteenth-century brick building with a small tower and battlements. Today it houses the Museo di Palazzo Venezia, with collections of decorative arts and medieval and Renaissance sculptures.
Palazzo Bonaparte / Torlonia (north-west corner): a Baroque façade with superimposed loggias.
Palazzo delle Assicurazioni Generali (east side): a neo-Renaissance building from 1907 that closes off the square visually on the side opposite Palazzo Venezia.
The Square as a Traffic Hub
Piazza Venezia concentrates several of Rome's main arteries:
- Via del Corso (north): the main axis of the historic centre
- Via dei Fori Imperiali (east): connecting link to the Colosseum
- Via delle Botteghe Oscure (east): towards the Jewish quarter
- Via del Teatro di Marcello (south): towards the Tiber
This position makes it one of the most congested traffic points in the city.
With a Private Driver
Reach Piazza Venezia with a private driver. From your hotel, airport or station — direct and on time. Service from €49. → Book at myromedriver.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Palazzo Venezia open to visitors? Yes, the Museo di Palazzo Venezia is open to the public with a ticket. Collections include decorative arts, ivories, ceramics and medieval and Renaissance paintings.
Can visitors see Mussolini's balcony? The balcony is part of the building. The room from which Mussolini delivered his speeches is included in the museum itinerary during certain periods.
Why is the traffic so heavy in Piazza Venezia? The square is the convergence point of six main roads and lacks a direct metro link. It is one of the very few points in Rome that cannot be bypassed when crossing the city.
Article no. 197 — TIER S — MON-10 Altar of the Fatherland / Vittoriano Type: HISTORICAL Words: ~615