It was begun in 1885 and opened in 1911 to honour Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of united Italy. Part of the medieval quarter around the Capitol was demolished to build it, and its white Brescia marble has never matched the colour of Rome: Romans call it «the typewriter» or «the wedding cake».
On the steps is the Altar of the Fatherland with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, always under guard. The central part is free to enter, and a glass lift climbs to the Terrace of the Quadrigae at the very top.
Nearby
Featured in these collections
About this listing
Checked on November 5, 2026.
Sources: Wikidata · OpenStreetMap · Google Maps (Place ID) · Vittoriano e Palazzo Venezia