The Vittoriano Monument was built to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Italian unification (1861) and inaugurated in 1911. Its construction started in 1885 and was only completed in 1927.
It is in the main square of Rome, Piazza Venezia and its name refers to the first Savoy King, Victor Emmanuel II, the man riding the horse in the central bronze sculture, the biggest in the world.
It clearly recalls the ancient architecture especially the two chariots with victories on top visible from many parts of the city but most Romans have found its design by Giuseppe Sacconi inappropriate for the contrast with the ancient ruins behind and the medieval buildings that were torn down for its construction. The statues sculpted are personifications of the italian regions, rivers and values of the people. Its proportions are massive since during its construction twenty workers were able to sit around a table inside the horse's belly! It hosts the tomb of the Unknown Soldier of World War I and it is the tallest monument in Rome (81 meters) not considering the Dome of St Peter which is in the Vatican.
