Altare della Patria
Many travellers visit Rome to see the must-see attractions: the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Trevi Fountain being just a few. These are all certainly amazing wonders. Yet there is one monument in Rome’s city centre that leaves a unique, lasting, and polarizing impression: the National Monument of Victor Emmanuel II – otherwise known as the Altare della Patria or the Altar of the Fatherland.
The monument is not to everyone’s liking. Even the city’s inhabitants have come up with names mocking its over-the-top grandeur: the “Wedding Cake”, the “Typewriter”, and – our personal favorite – the “English Trifle”. So what motivated the Italians to build such an ostentatious monument towering over the ruins of their ancient center? Read on to find out.
Designed by Giuseppe Sacconi, the Altare della Patria was built to commemorate Italy's unification under Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of Italy.
The monument is situated on the side of the Capitoline Hill, built upon the site of a medieval neighborhood which was razed to make space. Though started in 1885, the Altare della Patria would not be inaugurated until 1911. Even when it was inaugurated it was unfinished, however, as the monument was only actually completed until 1925.
The Altare della Patria is nothing if not big and bold. Built in a Neo-Hellenistic style, it takes the structure of an elevated square right in the heart of Rome above Piazza Venezia. The landmark features a large bronze sculpture of King Vittorio Emanuele II on horseback in the centre flanked on both sides by grand staircases.
There are fountains, numerous large sculptures, mosaics, and massive Corinthian columns of sizes that defy belief. In terms of dimensions, the Altare della Patria boasts a height of 70 meters, not including the extra 11 meters of the quadrigas and Nike - the personification of victory.
Statue of Nike on the Altare della Patria
In 1921, the Vittoriano was dedicated to the Unknown Soldier. This arose from Italy's role in the World War One, paying tribute to the service of the military forces who had served.
Sacconi's original project had been to create a new forum - much like the Roman and Imperial Forums below - with a museum and a library where the citizenry could meet. The idea was to create a connection between modern Rome, the capital of the new kingdom, and ancient Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire.
During the Fascist Era from the 1920s - 1940s, Mussolini used the grandeur of the Altare della Patria as a background for his rallies, speeches, and other events. Thus it completely lost the original inclusive purpose its architect had intended.
Since the early 2000s, the Altare della Patria has once again become a place for people to meet, greet, and enjoy art and cultural events. Known as the "Complesso del Vittoriano", the modern structure has transformed into a complex of different museums and cultural venues.
Different exhibitions take each month, either in the Ala Brasini or in the Museo del Risorgimento dedicated to the long process of the Italian unification.
Nevertheless, if you want to create lasting memories of the Altar of the Fatherland, don't miss the chance to visit one of the highest and most impressive points of the city: the terraces of the quadrigas.
View of the Altare della Patria from the Janiculum Hill
The panoramic elevator, which shoots to the top terrace of the monument right below the Quadriga, offers a spectacular 360 degrees view over the landscape of Rome. And if the monument's garish architecture is too much for you, just think - this is the only place in the city where you don't have to see it!
OPENING HOURS: Daily: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
What to see
The Altare della Patria's major attraction is the glass-walled elevator to the top. Called Rome from the Sky, it offers stunning panoramic views of Rome from its roof. One side overlooks most of Rome with all the domes scattered throughout the skyline and
in the distance while the other side is the
and the
When should I visit the Altare della Patria?
As with all attractions in Rome, the best time to visit is early in the morning or in the evening shortly before closing. When there’s a temporary exhibition taking place - avoid coming during the first 2 and the last two weeks of it. You can ask your agent here at Walks Inside Rome online or via telephone.
Does it have the largest statue in Rome?
It does indeed! The bronze statue of King Vittorio Emanuele standing proudly in the center of the Altare della Patria is 12-foot tall, standing atop a podium of 40-foot. The horse-and-rider statue is, in fact, so large that it had to be cast in 13 separate pieces. When the casting was finished, a celebratory dinner was held in the horse's stomach to celebrate.
What is there to do nearby?
Because the Altare della Patria is situated right at the crossroads of the historic center, there are no shortage of other sites to visit once you're done exploring. Climbing the adjacent Capitoline Hill gives you not only sweeping views over the
but also the perfect opportunity to visit the
and explore its unrivalled ancient collection. A 10-minute walk from the Altare della Patria will take you to the Palatine Hill, a playground of ancient sites including the House of Augustus and the House of Livia. From the Palatine Hill, you are treated to spectacular views over the
and - in the distance - the imposing ruins of the
.
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