Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II

The Vittoriano (Monumento to Vittorio Emanuele II) is situated in Rome and was dedicated to Vittorio Emanuele II after his death in 1878. The Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II is often confused with the Altare della Patria (Alter of the Fatherland), even though it is only part of it. For its construction, Minister Depretis drew up a precise programme which included the demolition of a medieval District.

The Vittoriano complex is of neoclassical style so as to best represent the majesty of Rome, worthy Capital of Italy. Outside the building there are the fountains of the two seas, on the left the Adriatic sea fountain built by Quadrelli and, on the right the Thyrrhenian sea fountain built by Pietro Canonica.

The restoration of the complex lasted almost forty years and, in the year 2000, the stairway was reopened which hosts the Altare della Patria, designed by the sculptor Angelo Zanelli.

On the propylaea of the monument one can find two insciptions in Latin: "All'unità della Patria" (For the Unity of the Fatherland") and "Alla libertà dei Cittadini" (For the Freedom of the Citizens").

Inside the monument one can find the Sacrario delle Bandiere (the Flag Shrine) where there are all the war flags from the dissolved military divisions, those of the old navy units, and those belonging to the military institutes and the armed forces units that no longer exist.