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    Altare della Patria

    4.5 (26 reviews)

    Altare della Patria Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Altare della Patria

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    Bladimir M.

    This monument is stunning. Love that you can climb up to the too and take in the views of the surroundings. Lots of steps though, so be prepared! The detail of the architecture is phenomenal. It can get busy, as we visited in the middle of the afternoon. Still very worth to pay a visit, especially if you're in the area! It's next to many other activities and shops too

    Tyler L.

    This was a huge monument that my friend and I stumbled upon while wandering around Rome. We had no idea what it was, but we took some photos and looked it up later. Apparently, it was built to honor Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified and independent Italy until his death in 1878. The monument looks like something you would see in Washington DC and it is almost comical how large it actually is. Definitely an interesting sight to behold in person.

    Sanjay G.

    The one landmark dominating Piazza Venezia is Il Vittoriano, a monument dedicated to King Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of Italy. The construction of the immense white marble monument - built on the side of the Capitoline Hill - in the early twentieth century completely changed the Victor Emmanuel II Monument appearance of the square, which at the same time was drastically enlarged. At the front of the monument stands a large bronze statue of Emmanuel and many other stone sculptures. The front facade features a row of ornate columns and is also highly decorated. At the base of the monument, there is also an interesting museum that is dedicated to the unification of Italy and the early years of its history. You can enter free. It's commonly called "The Wedding Cake" and "The Typewriter" by critics who protest its ostentatious design and its incongruity with the city's architecture. isn't it interesting...haha.. The two fountains at either end of the monument represent the seas surrounding the Italian peninsula, the Adriatic Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Palazzetto Venezia building was moved so it wouldn't obstruct the view of the monument from Via del Corso. It seems every monument is nearby. This large stone monument is located close to the Colosseum and the Pantheon. Piazza Navona is near to pantheon, Spanish steps are near to Piazza Navona, got the picture? Don't forget to check in the center on top of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with its eternal flame. There is the same concept almost everywhere. in Washington DC, there is a tomb of an unknown soldier, and it's very interesting. Read more here - https://www.yelp.com/biz/tomb-of-the-unknown-soldier-arlington-2?hrid=NmzdenKQ2Y-AqS3Fop-IGQ&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)

    Kathleen D.

    I've visited the Eternal City three times since 2010. On each of those visits, I've stopped by the Altare della Patria at least two times. On each of those visits, I've forgotten the museum's name. It has been dubbed "the white building." By Roman standards, this place is brand new (built in the 1800s). It's down the street from the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Forum, and right at the beginning of Via Corso, a main shopping drag in the city. Its central location makes it a great spot to visit and the museum itself is really interesting. The facade is absolutely stunning. HOWEVER! The main attraction for me? The roof. For 7 euro, you can take a little elevator up to the roof and browse around. This is perfect for the selfie-lover and urban landscape-lover. It's a great way to get a different perspective on many of the major landmarks since you can see them from here perfectly. I can't recommend a visit to this place enough. Do not pass it by!

    Front view at the bottom.
    Chris F.

    We visited Altare della Patria on January 6 at sunset. It was perfect for photographs of the city still decked out from the holidays. I don't know why exactly but the final elevator to the top that cost 10 euros in July was free on that day. Also, because it was a little brisk outside, there were a fair amount of people in line (20 minutes) but not the large masses of people that visited in July (1 hour). To access the elevator to the top, you will need to walk up about 5 floors of steps. The elevator is the only way to the very top and will take you to the viewing level located in between the chariots. The view of Rome from the top is superb. This monument is massive and also includes a museum and from what I understand the American equivalent of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier which is guarded by 2 military personal at the top of the first steps of stair off Piazza Venezia. A must see for us, two thumbs up!

    Hansel B.

    This great structure was built in the late 19th century to honor the unification of Italy. It looks impressive from outside. It's free to enter. The inside has a military museum. The real draw is to take the elevator to the top of the building. Its 7 euros, try to buy in advance to avoid the queue. There are great views of a lot of the great sights in Rome from up there. There is an eternal flame on the steps to honor unknown soldiers, it is guarded 24/7, pretty cool. It's very near the Colosseum, so worth a visit if you are near by.

    Hannah M.

    If you visit Rome, you'll probably take a picture of this even if you don't know what it is. Although with it's own history, I think mostly people are drawn in by architecture, fountains and crowds of tourists with effing selfie sticks (so it must be good, right?). What you want to do, though, is go and check out the view from the top, trust me.

    Rooftop picture
    Bethany M.

    Came upon this place without realizing what it was until after a couple of pictures were taken. Beautiful place to take pictures outside & you can go inside for free to get away from the heat & explore more of the museum. One thing to do: go to the top of the building so you can see the view of the city! Like other people have said in their reviews, you can pay a small fee to take an elevator to go even higher to see the city. The line was about an hour wait so we decided against waiting & were happy with the rooftop pictures we got. Oh, one more thing - technically, you aren't supposed to sit on the steps to take a picture, so I didn't know that.. After I had my picture taken, another girl sat on the steps to have her picture taken & one of the workers told her she wasn't allowed to sit on the steps. Just a FYI for those we want to do step pictures, be quick!

    Equestrian statue of Victor Emmanuel II
    Jay Y.

    When you are traveling from Termini into Rome, the first impression of the Eternal City may be Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland), a grand white marble monument commemorating the king who rallied for Italian unification, Victor Emmanuel II. Once you see Altare della Patria, you will understand why it's nicknamed "the Wedding Cake"! Although it's the newest member of Rome's historic center, this monument is equally grandiose and attention-grabbing as nearby headliners like the Colosseum. You probably didn't fly into Rome for this monument but you can bet Altare della Patria will be one of your lasting impressions! Climb atop of the multiple steps for free and be rewarded with an unique view of the historic Rome! Apparently you can even pay a small fee to be on the very top for the best vantage point of Roman Forum - Sadly I didn't know this while I was there... Nonetheless, whether you choose to climb Altare della Patria or not, you will definitely pass by this grand monument and will be hard to resist the temptation to snap a photo of this interesting beauty! Certainly because of its location, Altare della Patria is controversial because many ruins were cleared out for its construction. However even the detractors can agree that while the Colosseum is the memory of Rome as the caput mudus of the Empire, Altare della Patria is the symbol of Rome as the capital of the modern Italy. --- tl;dr version: 1) Though less famous abroad, still a memorable sight of Rome 2) Grand marble monument for the king behind Italian unification 3) Climb atop for a good view of historic Rome

    View from roof of Altare della Patria.  St. Peter's Basilica can be seen in middle along with domes from several other churches.
    Paul L.

    Altare della Patria, commonly referred to by locals as "the Typewriter," was built in honor of Victor Emmanuel, the first king of unified Italy. You can take an elevator (7 euros/person) to top of the building where there are incredible views of the Rome skyline. You can see St. Peter's Basilica, domes from various churches, the Colloseum, Roman Forum, etc... They also have nice diagrams to show you what you are looking at.

    Johanna J.

    It's really nice great to take pictures, the museum inside it's really not worth it unless you're big into Italian history then go for it, but something you must do is to try to get the elevator to the top, I think it's €12 but the view of Rome from the top is amazing!!!!

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    2 years ago

    Beautiful architecture, a highlight of the city. Lively and a great photo opportunity.

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    7 years ago

    Go to the top for great view of Rome. And if you have teenagers with you they will definitely love doing this.

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    Altare della Patria Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Altare della Patria

    Altare della Patria, commonly referred to by locals as "the Typewriter," was built in honor of Victor Emmanuel, the first king of unified Italy.

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    Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica in Palazzo Barberini - Barberini Palazzo

    Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica in Palazzo Barberini

    4.7(9 reviews)
    1.1 kmCentro Storico

    Great views of the city. Does charge for the best views, but probably worth it at sunsetread more

    So, we went to the Borghese the day before and were surprised the second floor was closed...I…read morelooked online to see what the reason for the closure was and found it was due to renovations but....many of the works were moved here - the National Art Gallery at the Palazzo Barberini. And....if you had tickets from the Borghese your cost to get in here was just 5€ with no advance purchase needed.... We walked over and not on,y was the internet correct that we could get in for 5€ by showing our tickets from the Borghese, but NO ONE WAS HERE!!!! It was amazingly uncrowded and quiet..in September...in Rome...there is an amazing amount of fabulous art here and everyone is crowded into a few museums....and this isn't one of them, so I highly recommend a trip here if you want a break from the crowds. The museum is huge...we thought this was maybe a 1 hour activity but we were here several hours. The works from the Borghese were indeed here, but we saw so much more too. Staff were relaxed and friendly; I think they were also benefiting from the smaller crowds. Be ready to put all bags and water bottles into lockers. They take a 1€ coin that you get back when you pick up your items. The kind guard had some extra coins to loan to guests who like us didn't have change. Definitely don't miss this less crowded, and amazing museum.

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    Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica in Palazzo Barberini
    Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica in Palazzo Barberini
    Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica in Palazzo Barberini

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    Palazzo Massimo alle Terme Museo Nazionale Romano

    Palazzo Massimo alle Terme Museo Nazionale Romano

    4.3(23 reviews)
    1.4 kmTermini

    There are a million things to do when you are in Rome & going to a museum is probably the last…read morething on your list given all the alternative awesome sightseeing options! Hubby & I always try to do three things in a new city: museum, sports event & something on the water. We figured that visiting the Colosseum was a good enough version of a sports event. We were returning from a 12-day cruise. So, next up on the list was checking out a museum. Thankfully, we were at a hotel that was around the corner from the Museo Nazionale Romano. It is a series of buildings around the Piazza della Repubblica. And as it turns out, on the first Sunday of the month, the Museo is free to the public (note: you must "purchase" tickets online in advance for a specific time to enter). This Museo feels like stepping straight into the heart of ancient Rome. The collection is extraordinary - from the iconic Discus Thrower to hauntingly lifelike statues that practically make eye contact with you. The level of detail is unreal & half the time it feels like the sculptures are standing at your height just waiting to start a conversation! The galleries are spacious, beautifully laid out & surprisingly calm compared to the big-name tourist spots. It's the perfect place to take your time, wander & really soak in the artistry. Frescoes, mosaics, portraits - every floor has something jaw-dropping (including -1 and -2!). What truly blew my mind were the tile mosaics displayed & then shown in their original settings. Seeing them arranged exactly as they would have appeared in ancient villas gives you this incredible, immersive peek into everyday Roman life. It's like stepping right into history rather than just looking at it behind glass. If you're in Rome & want an unforgettable museum experience without the crowds, do not skip this one. Palazzo Massimo is a treasure chest of ancient beauty! Highly recommend.

    This is actually spread out over 2 (or more) buildings. These are diagonally across a large…read moreintersection from each other. Both are across streets from the Termini (train) Station. Also - our city pass purported to include this place for admission. However, when we arrived they said that there had been some change and it was not covered. We paid their fee anyway. Later, we got a reimbursement from the city pass company for this. We began our tour in the building to the right when you are facing the train station. It houses mostly statuary from the period from Julius Ceasar forward. They have busts of many of the emperors from the first couple of centuries of the empire (and their families, in some cases). There are other statues as well, plus things like a huge room's preserved wall paintings that were unearthed nearby. It is definitely heavy on busts, but I thought it was interesting. We then crossed the streets to the 2nd building, which is incorporated into the remains of a vast Roman baths complex. They had a variety of different exhibits here - about the baths, some more sculptures, an odd small shrine that was unearthed during a construction project (and which was preserved in a parking garage), details about pre-Roman villages in the area, etc. You could browse through and focus on a few areas of interest. There were also multiple courtyards to examine, each with its own statuary. This set of museums is probably best viewed after touring things like the Forum or Colosseum first. You then may have some basic context of where things happened, and can then start adding details about the major figures associated with the time period (and get some idea of what they looked like too). I enjoyed spending a morning here.

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    Palazzo Massimo alle Terme Museo Nazionale Romano
    Palazzo Massimo alle Terme Museo Nazionale Romano
    Palazzo Massimo alle Terme Museo Nazionale Romano

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    Galleria Doria Pamphilj - Hall of Mirrors.

    Galleria Doria Pamphilj

    4.6(17 reviews)
    0.4 kmCentro Storico
    €€€

    Galleria Doria Pamphilj is one of Rome's most breathtaking hidden treasures--an aristocratic…read moresanctuary of art, history, and elegance tucked just steps away from the bustling Via del Corso. Visiting this gallery feels like stepping into a private world where centuries of beauty have been lovingly preserved. The moment you enter, the atmosphere shifts. The palace itself is a masterpiece--ornate ceilings, shimmering gold accents, and hallways lined with mirrors and marble. Each room carries the quiet grandeur of a family that collected art not for prestige, but out of genuine passion. That intimacy sets it apart from Rome's larger, more crowded museums. The collection is extraordinary. You'll find remarkable works by Caravaggio, Velázquez, Bernini, Raphael, and Titian, each displayed in lavish, beautifully lit rooms that feel more like a lived-in palace than a museum. Caravaggio's "Rest on the Flight into Egypt" and the haunting "Magdalene" are highlights, while Velázquez's portrait of Pope Innocent X is nothing short of astonishing--an encounter that lingers long after you leave. What makes the experience truly special is the ability to wander the gallery at your own pace, taking in masterpieces without the rush or crowds. The audio guide, narrated by a member of the Pamphilj family, adds a personal touch and deepens your appreciation for the collection and its history. Whether you're an art lover or simply someone seeking a quiet, immersive cultural experience, Galleria Doria Pamphilj is a must-visit. It's a rare blend of elegance, intimacy, and artistic brilliance--a place where Rome's noble past comes alive in the most captivating way.

    What an awesome view into the extravagant wealth of these families. We enjoyed exploring the palace!read more

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    Galleria Doria Pamphilj
    Galleria Doria Pamphilj
    Galleria Doria Pamphilj

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    Galleria Colonna

    Galleria Colonna

    4.8(6 reviews)
    0.4 kmCentro Storico

    Very cool. Plenty of art and amazing rooms. Our English-speaking guide was very knowledgeable and…read morefriendly. It was amazing to stand right where Hepburn stood in "Roman Holiday" last scene.

    This place is amazing- but the timing is weird. They're open on Saturday- and in December, when we…read morewere there, for just a few hours. I actually got to the gift shop before the museum closed, but they were counting the money and would not sell me the book I wanted- so shop first, maybe, just in case. The interior is stunning- and DO get a guide. Ours was Massimo and he was excellent. His English was superb, and he was one of the best guides we had in Rome. The collection is eclectic and outstanding- as is the architecture. As you walk through this place you can't help thinking- it must be great to be this rich. The family still live in another wing, or adjoining building. We did not see the gardens- and it turns out we would not have had time, but we did see the collection and the Prince's Apartments. There's an Egyptian temple in the garden- so it sounds like that would be worth seeing. It wasn't cheap- for the two of us it was 50 euro, 25 each, but it was worth it- and the family has certainly done wonderful restoration work. Kudos to them for amassing these works and keeping them safe for generations to enjoy. Do make sure you note all the gorgeous crystal and Venetian glass chandeliers! They are so beautiful. And the works of art are too numerous to list here- but the Bruegels were a favorite of mine as were the fabulous cabinets- one of hardstones and one of ebony and ivory- and OMG, the entrance hall. Way to stun your guests- which was the intention. The Bean Eater is one of my favorite paintings, as well as the angels in one room- which I think the guide said were of the Raphaelite school. But there are so many wonderful paintings here- many brought in a marriage bargain! And you will love the stories. I have great sympathy for the woman who loved the court of Louis XIV, but had to come to Rome for a marriage, had 3 children, and then ran off trying to get back to France. I guess she was confined twice in a nunnery (escaped the first time.) You'll see her statue. And you'll also see modern pictures of the family- which is quite nice. This was a highlight of our trip- and so unexpected! Pay the money and see it- truly, it is worth it. It's simply astounding what hundreds of years of money can buy!

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    Galleria Colonna
    Galleria Colonna
    Galleria Colonna

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    Altare della Patria - museums - Updated May 2026

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