The monumental centre of Rome, dominated by the vast white marble Vittoriano — the monument to King Victor Emmanuel II, Italy's first king after unification in 1861. Romans call it the Wedding Cake or the Typewriter; most visitors find it overwhelming. The altar at the centre is Italy's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded around the clock. The free rooftop terrace (or €7 lift to the very top) gives one of the best panoramic views in the city.
The adjacent Palazzo Venezia, a 15th-century palace, was where Mussolini gave his speeches from the balcony on the right. The square itself is the informal centre of Rome — all roads lead here.