Vittoriano

About the museum

The Vittoriano is the monument dedicated to Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of Italy, and one of the symbols of national unity. It was designed by Giuseppe Sacconi after an international competition and built from the 1880s onwards in the heart of Rome, in white marble, at the foot of the Capitoline Hill and in a dominant position over Piazza Venezia.

The Altare della Patria, decorated with sculptures by Angelo Zanelli, is the central part of the complex. In 1921 the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was placed there, a symbolic tomb of the Italian dead of the First World War. This makes the monument a place of civic memory and official ceremonies.

Inside the Vittoriano is housed the Museo Centrale del Risorgimento, conceived in 1884 and opened only in 1970, which is dedicated to the events of Italian unification. At the top is the panoramic terrace, reachable by lifts, with views over the Fori Imperiali and the Colosseo. The complex, now managed as VIVE – Vittoriano e Palazzo Venezia, also includes the nearby Palazzo Venezia and a specialist library in archaeology and art history.

Highlights

• Altare della Patria with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
• Panoramic terrace with views over the Fori Imperiali and the Colosseo
• Museo Centrale del Risorgimento
• Sculptures by Angelo Zanelli on the Altare della Patria
• Panoramic lifts to reach the terrace

Permanent exhibition

• Museo Centrale del Risorgimento – The museum, housed in the Vittoriano, is dedicated to the history of Italian unification; it was conceived in 1884 and opened in 1970.

Founded

1970

Operated by

VIVE – Vittoriano e Palazzo Venezia (Ministero della Cultura)

Visitors per year

approx. 3,094,116

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of the month: the free ticket is valid only for that day.

Entry to the Vittoriano and to the garden of Palazzo Venezia is free. The paid ticket (€18 standard) gives access to the panoramic terrace, the Sommoportico, the Museo Centrale del Risorgimento and Palazzo Venezia. It includes any temporary exhibition and is valid for seven days from issue, with one entry per site.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

At the entrance on the Aracoeli side of the Vittoriano there is a platform lift for wheelchairs and a lift up to the Terrazza Italia. Two panoramic lifts reach the panoramic terrace. Wheelchairs are on loan at the Aracoeli and Via del Plebiscito (Palazzo Venezia) entrances. About 90% of the spaces open to the public can be reached by lift. A few parking spaces reserved for disabled parking badge holders and for blind people are located in Piazza San Marco. Tactile tours for blind and visually impaired people and LIS tours are offered; information: vi-ve@cultura.gov.it.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant

Café-restaurant with a terrace overlooking the Fori and the Colosseo; food and drink are allowed only here. Toilets at the start, along the route and at the end.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit