A monument known to all who visit and live in Rome is the one to King Victor Emmanuel II. When I was in college and lived in Rome during the early 1970's we referred to it as a large white Olivetti typewriter. Today it is called a big wedding cake. It's "proper" knickname is il Vittoriano. It is also the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Altar of the Country, the Regimental Colors Museum, the Central Museum of the Risorgimento, and exhibition space for changing shows. (I once saw a great show of portraits by Modigliani here.)
On Sunday I went to the top of the monument, the Terrace of the Quadrigas, so named because of the bronze statues of chariots drawn by four horses. The panoramas of Rome were wonderful.
This is the view looking to the west, towards St. Peter's Basilica. You can see the dome of the Gesu Church in the foreground, and to the left of it is the rounded dome of the Pantheon.
This is the view town the Alban Hills with the Collesium and the Roman Forum in the foreground.
