Altare della Patria, National monument in Piazza Venezia, Rome, Italy
The Altare della Patria is a national monument in Piazza Venezia at the center of Rome. The structure rises in white marble across multiple terraces with massive columns, wide staircases, and sculptures that reach an overall height of 81 meters.
The monument opened in 1911 to honor Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of unified Italy. Construction took about forty years and transformed the cityscape of the historical center.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with its eternal flame serves as the central site for military ceremonies and national celebrations. Honor guards stand motionless at the tomb every day, while locals and visitors pause in respectful silence to remember the fallen and lay wreaths.
Visitors can reach the viewing terrace by elevator, while the monument is open daily and includes facilities for wheelchair users. The best time to visit is early morning or just before sunset when the marble facade glows most intensely.
The construction required 17,000 cubic meters of white marble from Botticino quarries and features two bronze quadrigae at its summit. Inside are lesser known museum rooms documenting the history of Italian unification that many visitors overlook while focusing on the exterior.
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