Official Information
Official site: https://vive.cultura.gov.it/it/vittoriano
Online tickets: https://vive.midaticket.com
Address: Piazza Venezia, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Map: View on Google Maps
Opening Hours
The Vittoriano is generally open Monday to Sunday, 09:30 to 19:30, with last entry at 18:45. From 1 June to 26 September 2025 there are extended evening openings on certain Fridays, when the complex (including the panoramic terrace) remains open until 23:30 with last entry at 22:45. Opening hours and special evening dates may change for events, conservation work or ceremonies, so visitors should confirm the current timetable on the official VIVE “Info e orari” page before their visit.
The Vittoriano, also known as the Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II or Altare della Patria, is the enormous white marble complex that dominates Piazza Venezia and marks the symbolic centre of modern Italy. Conceived after unification to honour the first king of a united Italy, it was begun in 1885 to a design by Giuseppe Sacconi and inaugurated in 1911, with work continuing into the 1920s. Its broad stairways, towering Corinthian colonnade and profusion of allegorical statues were meant to embody the virtues and unity of the new nation, using luminous Botticino marble that still catches the Roman light in dramatic ways.
At the heart of the monument, above the great central stair, lies the Altar of the Fatherland with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, established in 1921 to commemorate Italian soldiers who died in the First World War. The eternal flame and hourly changing of the guard underline its role as a place of national memory as well as a tourist landmark.
Inside the complex are several museum spaces, above all the Museo Centrale del Risorgimento, which traces the political and military process that led to unification through documents, weapons, uniforms, paintings and memorabilia from Garibaldi’s volunteers and other protagonists of the nineteenth century. Another important nucleus is the Sacrario delle Bandiere, where military flags and banners from different periods of Italian history are preserved, making the Vittoriano a kind of archive in stone and fabric of the country’s battles and sacrifices.
Today the monument is managed together with nearby Palazzo Venezia by the state institute VIVE (Vittoriano e Palazzo Venezia). The large halls and terraces are used for temporary exhibitions, conferences and cultural events, often included in a single combined ticket valid for seven days and covering all parts of the complex, from the museums to the panoramic areas. One of the main attractions for visitors is the panoramic terrace at the top, reached via elevators from the upper levels, offering one of Rome’s widest views: the Forums and Colosseum, Capitoline Hill, the domes of the historic centre and, on clear days, the distant Apennines.
Recent enhancement projects have opened additional spaces such as the Sommoportico and the Propilei to the public, integrating them into the overall visit of the monument. The various routes involve numerous stairs, ramps and open-air sections, so comfortable footwear is advisable, and in summer it is wise to plan early morning or late-afternoon visits, especially on days with special evening openings. Because the Vittoriano functions both as a museum complex and as a stage for official ceremonies and commemorations, specific areas can occasionally be closed at short notice. Checking the VIVE website and on-site notices ensures that travellers can make the most of this key symbol of Italian national identity and enjoy both its historical content and its outstanding city views.