Altar Of The Fatherland Rome: Visit The Vittorio Emanuele II Monument

You don’t want to invest in a good camera for your trip to Rome and not take pictures of the famous Altar of the Fatherland. This eye-catching national monument covered in white marble that glistens in the sun is a sight to remember fondly. This is arguably the best place for a panoramic view of Rome.

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What Is The Altar Of The Fatherland?

Architect Giuseppe Sacconi designed this humongous national monument in 1885. The memorial is very significant to Italians as it was made to commemorate Italy's unity in 1870. The memorial honours the memory of Vittorio Emanuele the 2nd, Italy’s very first king. The king is well represented in a bronze equestrian statue at the focal point of the majestic building.

How long did it take to build the Alter of The Fatherland?

The building of the monument commenced in 1911 and was not completed until 1925. Apart from the king's statue, the Vittorio Emanuele II features statues of the goddess Victoria, Corinthian columns, fountains and stairways.

The base architectural style for the Altar of the Fatherland is not Roman. Instead, Giuseppe infused Greek, German and Teutonic styles from architects all over the world. The eclectic monument stands about 230 feet high and spans about 443 feet wide, excluding the winged goddesses and the Quadrigae Terrace.

Altar Of The Fatherland Architecture And Things To See

A tour of the Vittorio Emanuele II has many interesting stories to tell. On this excursion you will see:

1.     Altar of the Fatherland

From the foot of the stairs and the surrounding sculptures, the grandeur of Rome’s largest monument is evident. Inside you can see the following: 

•     The crypt of the unknown soldier, surrounded with a coat of arms, flags and lamps, this memorial has been situated at the centre of Altare della Patria since 1921.
•     The sacrium of flags is an exhibition of the flags deployed in the battle for Italy’s unification.
•     The sacrium of the navy houses memorabilia and flags from the now disarmed navy units.

2.     Museo Centrale del Risorgimento Italiano

Designed right after the Vittorio Emanuele II, this historic museum now exhibits interesting artifacts from paintings to books and etchings of historiographical value.

3.     The Terraces of Vittorio Emanuele II

Climb the stairs or take the sky elevator to see the most panoramic view of Rome.

If you want to enjoy comments and combined Rome attractions, join the 3-hours guided tour to combined the Colosseum, Roman Forum and the Vittorio Emanuele Monument.

4.     Basilica di San Marco

This church was initially built in 336 by Pope Mark. It was razed by fire in the fourth century but renovated in the fifth century. The basilica is beautifully designed with Roman architectural styles and beautiful mosaic.

When Is The Best Time To Visit The Altar Of The Fatherland  ?

Altar of the Fatherland opening hours

The Altare della Patria is open every day of the week so that many tourists can enjoy the sublime location. Guests are allowed in from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm during the fall and winter. Opening hours run until 7:30 pm during the summer and spring. Tourists can climb to see the terraces during opening hours every day. If climbing by elevator, the Roma dal Cielo Ascensore is open for use from 9:30 am to 7:30.

The Central Museum of the Risorgimento is open to visitors from Monday to Sunday every week. Opening times are 9:30 am to 6:30 pm.

Get the most of your visit by choosing the best time slot

The perfect time to tour Piazza Venezia and see all the beautiful attractions varies depending on what time of the year you visit.

•               Best time in fall and winter: during the cold months, 11:30 am is the perfect time for early sightseers. If you prefer to enjoy an afternoon tour, 2:30 pm is another good time.
•               Best time in spring and summer: to avoid the large noon crowds, you should come to Piazza Venezia by 10:00 am for an early start. Crowds also di down in the evening and 5:30 pm is another excellent time for your tour.

Altar Of The Fatherland Tickets – Booking Tips

Is the Is Alter of The Fatherland entrance free?

Entry to the Altar of the Fatherland is free of charge for all visitors. Tourists have to pay for tickets to ride the Roma dal Cielo Ascensore to the Quadrigae Terrace if they don’t want to climb many stairs. Note that children from below age 10 to age 18 and seniors from age 65 and above can ride free of charge. Entry to the museum is charged according to the type of tourist.

Alter of The Fatherland tickets option and price

Where and how to buy Alter of The Fatherland tickets ?

You can make payment for sky elevator and museum tickets right at the entrance. The ticketing office for the museum is open from 9:30 am to 5:45 pm on every day of the week. All guests can make reservations for their tickets on site, but groups of up to 25 participants are required to make a reservation through phone call or online.

Top Tips To Visit The Altare della Patria

Here are some key tips for visiting Altare della Patria.

•               Always wear good comfortable shoes on this trip. You will be doing a lot of walking and possibly climbing a lot of stairs to see the terraces.
•               Don’t forget to bring along your sunscreen during summer and umbrella during winter.
•               You're fortunate if you have planned your trip between October and March. You can enjoy free entry to the museum on the first Sunday of these months.
•               If you are on a romantic trip with the one you love, you can enjoy the most intimate moments atop the terrace at sundown. You will get to watch a beautiful sunset over the skyline of Rome with St. peter’s Basilica and The Forum in the distance.

What You Need To Know To Go On An Altar Of The Fatherland Tour ?

If you’re going to enjoy your tour of Piazza Venezia Roma, you should keep the following tips in mind.

•               To allow as many guests as possible to enjoy the tour, Piazza Venezia is open every day of the week. You can enjoy all attractions at the piazza if you schedule your time properly. Make plans to break your visit into separate days so you don’t rush any
  part or miss out entirely.
•               If you plan to climb the Quadrigae Terrace, expect the climb alone to take at least 30 minutes.
•               Guided tours of the museum vary in length. Short tours take roughly 45 minutes, and a standard tour will last an average of 90 minutes and longer in-depth tours last a whole 2 hours.
•               Telescopes are free to use from the terrace. If you don’t understand what you’re gazing at as you peer through the lenses, there are useful pamphlets to explain the sights.
•               The humongous sky elevator is a joyous ride to the top, but locating the entrance might be an issue. Thankfully, security guards at the sky elevator are very helpful and can point you in the right direction.
•               The main entrance of Piazza Venezia shut down at 5:00 pm in the summer and 4:00 pm during winter. After those hours, Vittorio Emanuele II and the terraces can only be accessed through side entrances.

Is The Roma Pass Valid For An Altar Of The Fatherland Tour?

Since entry to Altar of the Fatherland is free, you don’t need a pass for access. Both the 72 hour and 48 hour Roma Pass options are great for sightseeing in Rome as they cover many destinations. However, they do not cover entry to the Central Museum of the Risorgimento. Read on our Roma Pass review article to know which on will suit the best for your trip.

Apart from easy transportation while in Rome and for sightseeing at other popular attractions, the Roma Pass is not worth it for this particular tourist site.

How To Get To The Altare della Patria Rome?

The Piazza Venezia is located in a broad boulevard at the heart of Rome. Because of this strategic positioning, getting transportation to Vittoriano is not tricky.

•               Metro: the vast metro system in Rome is beneficial for getting around (get your metro card here). You can join the metro and alight at the Colosseum stop to get to Piazza Venezia.
•               Buses: you will find many hop-on-and-hop-off (ticket here) tour busses stop near the Piazza. Some of them even have a dedicated Vittoriano stop. If you have a Roma Pass, you can utilize this to reach the Piazza Venezia without paying extra transportation costs.
•               Tram: you can reach Piazza Venezia by tram. Tramlines 15, 13 and 4 all run to Piazza Venezia.

Conclusion

Piazza Venezia Roma is both beautiful and historically appealing for all types of visitors to Rome. There is a pinch of romance at the terraces of Vittorio Emanuele II and religious history in nearby Basilica di San Marco. You will find amazing exhibits to view at the Central Museum of the Risorgimento and rich Italian history at the Vittorio Emanuele II Monument. Don’t miss the most scenic skyline view of Rome. Take a trip to Piazza Venezia.