Love it or loathe it, as most locals do, you can't ignore Il Vittoriano (aka the Altare della Patria; Altar of the Fatherland), the massive mountain of white marble that towers over Piazza Venezia. Begun in 1885 to honour Italy's first king, Victor Emmanuel II, it incorporates the Museo Centrale del Risorgimento , a small museum documenting Italian unification, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier .
For Rome's best 360-degree views, take the Roma dal Cielo lift to the top.
Housed in the monument's eastern wing is the Complesso del Vittoriano , a gallery space that regularly hosts major art exhibitions.
