Tomb of the Italian Unknown Soldier, War memorial at Altare della Patria, Rome, Italy.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a sacellum beneath the statue of the goddess Roma at the Altare della Patria in Rome. Its marble floor comes from the Karst Plateau, and the small altar is cut from a single block of stone from Monte Grappa. Two flames burn in braziers beside the guarded tomb.
A mother selected one unidentified body from eleven soldiers recovered from different World War I battlefields on October 28, 1921. The solemn burial took place a few days later on the fourth anniversary of the Italian victory.
Two military guards stand motionless on either side of the tomb, a sight that often causes visitors to pause and lower their voices. This form of honor guard follows strict protocol and represents the ongoing respect shown to those who fell without identification.
The tomb sits at the foot of the statue of Roma on the Altare della Patria, facing Piazza Venezia; the guard of honour and the two perpetual flames are on the outward-facing side. Soldiers of the different armed forces alternate the watch every ten years. Ceremonies with a laurel wreath are held on 25 April, 2 June and 4 November.
The marble floor of the crypt comes from the Karst Plateau, and the small altar is cut from a single block of stone from Monte Grappa, both World War I battle sites. A plaque beside the two perpetual braziers reads "Italians Abroad to the Motherland", recalling emigrants' donations for the Vittoriano.
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