The Altare della Patria Rome is not only one of the city’s most famous and most photographed monuments, but also one of the most important when it comes to the history of Italy, the Risorgimento, and the House of Savoy monarchy. It contains a wide range of symbols and references to national unity and represents Italy in all its facets.
Many Romans call the Vittoriano the “typewriter,” say that it is ugly, and associate it with Fascism. In reality, it has absolutely nothing to do with Mussolini or the twenty years of his dictatorship, because the project dates back to the final years of the 1800s, long before the Duce became head of state.
In fact, the Altare della Patria is a monument of enormous symbolic value that brings together all the values of Risorgimento Italy.
You should know that the entire Vittoriano complex is 81 meters high and 135 meters wide, but the interesting thing to note concerns the division of its spaces. The whole monument, in fact, can be summarized in 3 main areas:
- The entrance staircase
- The two side propylaea
- The upper portico with the columns
Since 2007, it has also been possible to reach another area of the Altare della Patria. This is the beautiful upper terrace, which you can reach via an elevator located behind the monument. Admission is paid only, but the view of Rome from the Vittoriano is truly stunning.
So, would you like to find out a little more?
Let’s get started!
Read also: Borghese Gallery – 10 magnificent works you absolutely must see
Table of contents
Why the Altare della Patria was built
The construction of the Altare della Patria began in 1885 during the reign of Umberto I of Savoy, son of Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of Italy. The need was to create an extremely symbolic commemorative monument to bear witness to the changes the country was experiencing.
The decision to build the Vittoriano next to the Capitoline Hill was certainly not random. This hill is one of the most important in Rome because it was the center of religious and political life in the ancient city, and it was here that the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus stood.
The choice of location for the Altare della Patria was not random either. The monument stands in a central and highly symbolic area of the city, just a short distance from important remains of ancient Rome such as the Colosseum and the Imperial Forums. Its position also reflects Rome’s new role as the capital of united Italy.
But that’s not all!
During the same historical period, other large public buildings were also constructed in the new capital, such as the Palace of Justice near Castel Sant’Angelo, bearing witness to the strengthening of the institutions of the Italian State after unification.
The Vittoriano project
A public competition was announced for the Vittoriano project, and it was won by Giuseppe Sacconi, a young architect from the Marche region who had in mind an ambitious work with strong symbolic value. But there was a problem! To build it, he needed a large open space, and in the center of Rome there was no area big enough to accommodate it.
Here is how they did it.
Have you ever noticed that many medieval buildings in the center of Rome are less visible than those from other periods?
Many pre-existing buildings were in fact expropriated and demolished to make room for the construction of the Vittoriano. In order to clear space for the monument, numerous houses and structures on the side of the Capitoline Hill were demolished, while the basilica and convent of Santa Maria in Ara Coeli were preserved.
In the surrounding areas, you can still notice some remains of these ancient buildings. A small structure stands to the right of the monument, right at the foot of the staircase leading up to the Capitoline Hill. This building is often literally ignored by tourists, who do not realize its importance as a testimony to medieval Rome.
But how long did the work on the Vittoriano last?
Several decades were needed to build the Altare della Patria: work began in 1885, the monument was inaugurated in 1911, but it was only completed in the following years.
The official inauguration took place in 1911 and, of course, all the most important figures of the State were present.
The allegorical meanings of the Altare della Patria
This building represents the Fatherland: on the two sides, where the sun rises and sets, there are two fountains representing the Adriatic Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea. The fountains mark the symbolic “boundaries” of the monument, just as the two seas delimit the Italian Peninsula.
At the center of the Vittoriano stands the equestrian statue of King Victor Emmanuel II.
The statue rests on a marble base at the foot of which are allegories of the Italian cities and municipalities on which the fatherland is founded. Among the most important symbols of the Altare della Patria, you can certainly notice Florence, with her head crowned with laurel; Ravenna, dressed in Byzantine garments; and Bologna, represented with an academic gown and a book.
At the top, on the two propylaea, the inscriptions “PATRIAE UNITATI” and “CIVIUM LIBERTATI” stand out in huge letters, meaning “To the unity of the fatherland” and “To the freedom of the citizens.” These were certainly not words placed there by chance, but represented the two fundamental principles of unity and freedom promoted by the new Italian State.
But we are only at the beginning!
The enormous building, which reaches 81 meters in height with the quadrigas, is entirely decorated with sculptural groups created by various artists representing the values of the Italian people: Strength, Law, Action, Concord, Sacrifice, and Thought.
At the center is the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, placed there in 1921 as a warning and memorial after the First World War. Above it towers the statue of Rome, set against a golden mosaic background symbolizing the importance of the new capital and its geographical and political centrality. On the two sides, there are representations of agriculture and industry, that is, the work on which the country’s economy rests and the productive foundation of the nation.
The great portico of 16 columns symbolically represents several historical and geographical realities of Italy!
But how is that possible, aren’t there 20 regions in Italy?
Of course, yes, today our peninsula is made up of 20 regions, but at the time when the Vittoriano was designed, the current administrative division did not yet exist. The figures represented therefore refer to historical and cultural realities of Italy at the time, not to the modern regions.
But there is also another curiosity that not everyone knows.
The columns are not all the same. Artists from different parts of Italy were involved in creating them, helping to symbolically represent the variety and richness of the peninsula’s artistic traditions.
Finally, two tall columns, topped by winged victories, crown this celebration of Italy and its values, of its people and its history.
The terraces of the Altare della Patria
The interior of the colonnade that forms the Vittoriano terrace is decorated with marbles and mosaics by Giulio Bargellini. They represent Faith, Work, Strength, and Wisdom on one side, and Law, Valor, Peace, and Union on the other.
Even the plant motifs decorating the Altare della Patria have a precise meaning. Laurel represents valor, palm victory, oak strength, myrtle sacrifice, and olive peace.
At the top of the monument is the famous Terrace of the Quadrigas.
Would you like to go up there and see Rome from above?
This space is accessible and can be visited for a fee, via an impressive glass elevator. The view from the top of the Vittoriano will leave you speechless, and from here you will enjoy one of the most beautiful panoramic views in Rome.
The ticket price to go up the Vittoriano may vary over time, so it is advisable to check the updated rates before your visit.
The equestrian statue of the Vittoriano
Regarding the enormous bronze equestrian statue, created in the early twentieth century by Enrico Chiaradia, there is a curiosity that will seem incredible to you.
Given the overall size of the monument and the elevated position of the statue, it does not appear particularly large, but this colossal composition is 10 meters long and about 12 meters high.
Inside the belly of the horse, a dinner was even held for twenty people to celebrate the successful completion of the work, as some historical photographs show.
The museums inside the Altare della Patria
Unlike the terrace, the interior of the Vittoriano can largely be visited free of charge, although some museum areas may require a ticket. Here you will find several interesting museums, including:
- The Sacrarium of the Flags, which preserves the flags of disbanded units of the Italian army. It is a commemorative place where the memory of these banners and of Italian military traditions is preserved, with numerous relics linked to the history of the Armed Forces.
- The Museum of the Italian Risorgimento , which tells the story of the fundamental stages of the Italian Risorgimento up to the First World War. An entire section is dedicated to some of the most important figures in Italian history, including Garibaldi, Camillo Benso di Cavour, and Giuseppe Mazzini. The museum also houses paintings, prints, historical photographs, and numerous historical documents.
- The Crypt of the Unknown Soldier, located inside the Vittoriano complex and carrying extremely strong symbolic value. This place represents the sacrifice of the Italian soldiers who fell during the First World War. The soldier buried here was chosen from among several unidentified bodies and laid to rest directly beneath the statue of the Goddess Rome in the Altare della Patria.
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What to do near the Altare della Patria
The Altare della Patria is located in the historic center of Rome, along Via del Corso, one of the city’s main streets, where you can go shopping and find all kinds of souvenirs.
Within a one-kilometer radius, you can visit the Colosseum as well as some of the most beautiful squares in Rome, including Piazza Navona with its Fountain of the Four Rivers, Piazza del Campidoglio, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and much more.
If you are looking for guided tours, I suggest these three that you will find below.
Segway tour through Rome’s most beautiful squares
Just 10 minutes on foot from the Altare della Patria, you can take part in an adventure that will lead you to discover Rome’s historic center, its most beautiful monuments, and its wonderful squares.
The tour lasts about 3 hours. After riding along the Imperial Forums, you will reach the top of the Capitoline Hill, where you will visit the square designed by Michelangelo himself. Afterwards, you will be able to see Campo de’ Fiori, Piazza Navona, and the Pantheon, one of the best-preserved buildings of ancient Rome, with its immense dome measuring about 43 meters.
The tour ends with the classic coin toss into the Trevi Fountain and arrival at Piazza di Spagna, with the beautiful Spanish Steps of Trinità dei Monti.
Why do I recommend this tour?
Because the historic center of Rome is breathtakingly beautiful and should be visited step by step in order to admire all its masterpieces. But if you have little time and are staying in Rome for only a few days, this tour will give you the chance to experience the most important attractions and take home a wonderful memory of the Eternal City.
Evening tour in Rome by electric bike
Would you like to take an evening tour through Rome’s historic center?
With this tour, you can see the monuments in a different light as you pedal under the soft glow of the street lamps while a guide tells you stories and curiosities about the Eternal City.
The bike tour of Rome is suitable for everyone, even if you have not ridden a bicycle in years, because you will have electric bikes available and the tour will take place mainly on safe little streets away from metropolitan traffic.
Tour of the Colosseum and Ancient Rome
About one kilometer from the Altare della Patria stands one of the most famous monuments in the world, the Colosseum.
So why not take the opportunity to visit its arena from the inside?
One of the things that scares tourists the most is having to wait in line to enter the Colosseum, but with this tour you will have priority access and a guide at your disposal who will explain all its secrets.
The tour lasts about 3 hours, but it is not limited to the Colosseum. In fact, the guide will accompany you inside the Roman Forum as far as the area traditionally associated with the tomb of Julius Caesar; you will walk along the Sacred Way and discover some of the most beautiful residences of ancient Rome.