Il Vittoriano

Love it or loathe it, as most locals do, you can’t ignore Il Vittoriano, the massive mountain of white marble towering over Piazza Venezia. Known as the Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland), it was begun in 1885 to commemorate Italian unification and honour Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s first king and the subject of its gargantuan equestrian statue. It also hosts the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Whatever you make of it, there’s no denying that the 360-degree views from the top are quite stunning. To get to the top, take the glass lift, Roma del Cielo from the side of the building. Inside the body of the structure, the Museo Centrale del Risorgimento, often referred to as the Complesso del Vittoriano, hosts temporary art exhibitions and has a small collection of military knick-knacks documenting the history of Italian unification.