Vittoriano

The Vittoriano was erected in the early 20th century to celebrate 50 years of Italian Unity. It was built in honor of Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of united Italy in 1861, who was the instigator of this movement. It houses the Museum of the History of the Unification of Italy. The monument, and its huge staircase, is made entirely of white marble. Its construction was challenged because it caused the destruction of a medieval district on the slopes of the Capitol Hill. The opponents also thought the building was too large, and matched poorly with the historic center of Rome, and now refer to it as the rack, the typewriter, or the sink ... However, today many Romans consider it a symbols of their city.