piazza Venezia

Welcome to Piazza Venezia, the chaotic and grand heart of modern Rome, where the city's main arteries—Via del Corso, Via dei Fori Imperiali, and Via del Plebiscito—all converge in a whirlwind of traffic and history. This square…

The Altare della Patria, or 'Altar of the Fatherland,' was inaugurated in 1911 to honor Victor Emmanuel the Second, the first king of a unified Italy. Built from pure white marble quarried from Botticino, its brilliance often…

In the center of the monument, beneath the towering statue of the Goddess Roma, lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a solemn tribute to the fallen heroes of World War One. You will notice an eternal flame that flickers day and…

On the western side of the square stands the Palazzo Venezia, a formidable 15th-century fortress-like palace that provides a stern architectural contrast to the white marble monument. Originally built for Cardinal Pietro Barbo,…

Just behind the Victor Emmanuel monument is the Cordonata Capitolina, a majestic wide-stepped staircase designed by the legendary Michelangelo. This 'masterpiece' guides you up to the Piazza del Campidoglio on the summit of…

For those who wish to see Rome from a bird's-eye perspective, the back of the Altare della Patria offers a 'panoramic' elevator that whisks you up to the very top terrace. Known as the Terrace of the Quadrigae, this observation…

Hidden away at the top of a separate, much steeper set of 124 steps right next to the Campidoglio is the Basilica of Santa Maria in Ara Coeli. This church was built over the site where the Tiburtine Sibyl is said to have…

As you descend from the terraces of Piazza Venezia and rejoin the flow of the city, take a moment to reflect on the immense layers of time you have just navigated. In this single location, you have seen the foundation of the…