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    Complesso del Vittoriano

    4.4 (62 reviews)
    Closed 9:30 am - 5:30 pm

    Complesso del Vittoriano Photos

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    Massive building
    Kim G.

    This modern, huge, multi-columned building on the northern slope of the Capitoline Hill in the center of Rome is a memorial to Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy. Built between 1885-1911 on the Piazza Venezia, I passed it several times by taxi and every single time it captured my attention. Finally, I decided to check it out. Conceived as a modern forum, the front facade is dominated by columns and a massive staircase. In front is an enormous statue, The Altar of the Fatherland (Altare della Patria). With flags flying, the limestone reflecting the sun, the building shines during the day and at night glows with soft lighting. No matter the time, you can't miss it if passing by on Via del Corso. For Italians, there are mixed feelings about the unification and liberation of Italy from foreign control, which this building represents. Many also detest the modern structure, often criticized for being too white like a wedding cake and too large, dwarfing other more historical and significant ancient structures and ruins nearby. SomeItalians refer to it as La Macchina da Scrivere which translates to the typewriter! The structure is actually a conglomerate of several memorials. The Italian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier rests here, inside in the military themed museum. The goddess of Rome is also memorialized here and a tribute to the Adriatic Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea are honored by fountains on either side of the Vittoriano memorial. The museum is free but for the best panoramic views of the city, pay $7 euros and take the lift to the top. The view of Rome from this vantage point is incredible! Cathedral domes stand tall amongst basilicas, ancient ruins and buildings of various centuries and styles of architecture, umbrella pines peppered throughout. This is Rome, the Eternal City!

    The "fountains of the two seas" which are dedicated to the Adriatic Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea.
    Eric R.

    "Only in Rome is it possible to understand Rome..." Ciao! Altar of the Fatherland! Yo! Sounds like I'm in one of those Benito Mussolini horror movies! Haha! The Complesso del Vittoriano aka Victor Emmanuel II National Monument aka Altar of the Fatherland! Now say all of that three times... in Italiano! Complesso del Vittoriano will not make your top 10 sites to visit in Rome, with so much landmarks from the Colosseum to the Patheon to Trevi Fountain, amore, amore, amore. Rome was certainly not built in a single day, so wanderlusting across this ancient city is a must. That's what happened when I literally stumbled upon the Complesso del Vittoriano! I was simply strolling to Vatican City when this impressive monument stood before me! Really a collective of different monuments that's meaningful to Italians. On my visit I noticed lots of Italians, not so much tourists, then again it's that abnormal pandemic times, so maybe that's the reason of Italians visiting their own local landmarks? Not doing much of anything but chatting and just enjoying life. And sometimes in life that's all that matters. The Italian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier rests here. The first raised platform of the Vittoriano, is where the goddess Rome is immortalized. Set against the external base of the Vittoriano, on the sides of the to Piazza Venezia, are the "fountains of the two seas" which are dedicated to the Adriatic Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea. A small museum inside. In the end, I'd recommend stopping by Complesso del Vittoriano even if for only a minute or two. A Neoclassical structure with eclectic influences. For me, the best part was not having it on any list and just stumbling across this wonderful monument. Mingling with local Italians and just enjoying life... That's what's it's all about. Nei tuoi occhi c'è il cielo...

    Alexander H.

    The "Altare Della Patria" also known as the Mole del Vittoriano or simply Vittoriano, is a large national monument built between 1885 and 1935 to honour Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy. It is an amazingly impressive building. Showing the strength, power and architectual skills. It's been built from 1885 to 1935. By the style they chose it could be easily been built 2000 years ago. It's just an amazing sight. And maybe even more so at night. Luckily there is less traffic now, since regular cars won't drive around this place and the colosseum. Better for the view, less noise and feels less busy. Besided the Coloseo and the Trevi Fountain surely one of the must-sees when visiting Rome for the first time. Even if you've seen it before...the sight remains amazing every time.

    Andrea U.

    The Victor Emmanuel II National Monument also known as the Altar of the Fatherland is a huge national monument built in 1885 to honor Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy. It was conceived as a modern forum, an agora on three levels connected by stairways & dominated by a portico characterized by a colonnade. The complex is symbolic of Italy's unification and liberation from foreign control.

    The Rome skyline from the upper terrace of the Vittoriano
    Michael S.

    The Italian national monument to Victor Emmanuel II (first king of a unified Italy) was ... well, monumental ... and so much more. The impressive marble complex also houses two important military memorials: * Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland) * Sacello Milite Ignoto (Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) and three small museums: * Sacrario delle Bandiere (Shrine of the Flags) * Museo Centrale del Risorgimento (Museum of Italian Unification) * Ala Brasini (Special exhibitions) Il Vittoriano, as it is known, stands out on the northern slope of the Capitoline Hill facing Piazza Venezia at the entrance of Via del Corso. You can't miss it. The large, white "neoclassical interpretation of the Roman Forum" stands out in historic Rome because it was built from 1885-1911 instead of hundreds or thousands of years ago. Open: Mon-Thu: 9:30a - 7:30p Fri-Sat: 9:30a - 10:00p Sun: 9:30a - 8:30p Because of its distinctive style and controversial feelings about the unification of Italy, not everyone loves Complesso del Vittoriano. Reportedly, many locals refer to it as La Macchina da Scrivere (the typewriter) while many tourists say it looks like a wedding cake. No matter what you call it or how much time you have to invest in the memorials or museums, Il Vittoriano offers too many viewpoints and photo opps to ignore. Besides, that really isn't possible since the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II is truly monumental.

    Joe B.

    Picture however awesome you think the architecture is and triple it! Massive, beautiful and historic building smack in the center of Rome. Very walkable and this landmark serves as a good point of reference for where you are when walking downtown. Only bad part is BE CAREFUL and do not get hit by a car. There are no defined crosswalks and wild drivers. If you're taking selfie's there's a good chance you could get hurt.

    Kevin L.

    Just in case you're seeking Palazzo Venezia, this is NOT it. It only took me about fifteen minutes of waiting around looking like a lost and forlorn tourist to realise my error. Learn from my mistake: don't be that guy. That said, this is a pretty wow-inducing edifice. It's massive, it looks old, and it oozes importance. And this is on a grey dreary snowy/sleety day, no less. It's too bad the massive metal gates in front keep the public away from walking up the steps to view the building in greater detail. Albeit, if I owned a building like this, I'd want to keep the riff-raff out, too.

    Kevin W.

    The reason Italy is Italy today! This site is dedicated to man who unified Italy, Victor Emmanuel. Great marble architecture. The small columns that line the top of the building was my favorite part. There is a statue of Victor on a horse right in front. Overlooks Piazza Venezia and right by Capitoline Hill and the Forum. Definitely worth a visit if you are site seeing in the area.

    A nice site at night as well
    Ginette P.

    This building is pretty large just like many of the monuments around italy. This is just another great thing too see if you are in the area it is a nice sight to see during the day as well as at night.

    Bilal S.

    Its quite a site so make sure you do check it out when in Rome! The white marble work gives it a distinctive look and makes it glow apart from surroundings. The Statues are well positioned and makes the whole look complete.

    Jim B.

    We were told by a local that Romans don't like this building...that it's too "over the top". I guess when you're surrounding by the beauty of Rome, it does stand out quite a bit....but it is worth the visit. The building pays homage to the individual who united the states of Italy, forming it into the country it is today. We didn't get to the top as the queue was far too long, so we wandered around looking at it from ever possible angle.

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    Beautiful building, free museum, great views of the city up top, neat changing of the guards and restrooms available too!

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    10 years ago

    Wow. Simply breathtaking. Definitely worth the climb. One of the most dramatic monuments I've seen anywhere.

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    Complesso del Vittoriano Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Complesso del Vittoriano

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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)
    0.5 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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    Complesso del Vittoriano - museums - Updated May 2026

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