Nov. 21, 2024
143. Italy - Rome - BEST VIEWS and FREE - Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II (Vittoriano)
Discover Rome's most dramatic monument, the Vittoriano! Journey Joe reveals why this controversial 'Wedding Cake' building offers the city's best panoramic views, shares the perfect time for rooftop photos, and explains why the glass elevator is a...
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RSS Feed Discover Rome's most dramatic monument, the Vittoriano! Journey Joe reveals why this controversial 'Wedding Cake' building offers the city's best panoramic views, shares the perfect time for rooftop photos, and explains why the glass elevator is a must-do experience. Learn how to avoid the crowds, find the hidden museum, and combine your visit with the charming Monti neighborhood.
And you can do most of this for FREE
TOURS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
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Calarogu Shark Media. Hey there, fellow travelers, this is Journey
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Joe Mitchell, and you're listening to Travel is back, your
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guide to amazing destinations for regular folks like you and me.
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Today we're exploring what might be Rome's most dramatic building,
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the Monumento Nazionale of Vittorio Emmanuel the Second, or as
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most visitors call it, the Wedding Cake. Now, I know
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that sounds a bit disrespectful for a national monument, but
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once you see this massive white marble building rising up
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like a layered confection in the heart of Rome, you'll
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understand the nickname. You absolutely cannot miss this building, and
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I mean that literally. It's enormous, bright white, and sits
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right at the end of Via del Corso, one of
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Rome's main streets. The first time I saw it, I
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was actually looking for something else and turned a corner
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and there it was, this massive structure that looks like
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someone dropped a gleaming white palace right in the middle
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of Rome's earth toned buildings. Now here's something I learned
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that really changed how I saw this place. A lot
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of Romans historically haven't been huge fans of this monument.
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They nicknamed it the Typewriter and complained that it's too big,
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too white, to everything. But you know what, after taking
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the tour we recommend in our show notes, and yes
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you really should take it, I gained a whole new
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appreciation for this place. It's not just a bombastic monument,
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it's a symbol of Italian unity and a fantastic observation
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point for understanding Rome's layout. Let me tell you about
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the best part, the glass elevator that takes you to
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the roof terrace. I'm serious, this might be the best
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view in Rome. Sure, Saint Peter's has its dome, and
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the Palatine Hill has its vantage points, but this view
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is something else. You're right in the heart of the
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historic center, elevated above most other buildings, and you get
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this incredible three hundred and sixty degree panorama of the city.
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You can see everything from here, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum,
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Saint Peter's Basilica, and all the way to the mountains
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on a clear day. And unlike some other viewpoints in Rome,
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there's actually a nice cafe up here where you can
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sit and enjoy the view with a coffee or a
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glass of wine. Speaking of views, let me give you
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some photography tips. The best time to shoot from the
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terrace is late afternoon, when the sun is starting to set.
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The light hits the terrace perfectly and you get this
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beautiful golden glow over the city. But here's a pro tip.
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Come twice if you can come in the morning to
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photograph the monument itself the sun hits the white marble beautifully.
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Then return in the late afternoon for those city views.
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And don't forget to take photos of the massive equestrian
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statue of Victor Emmanuel the Second. It's so big that
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the king's mustache alone is apparently six feet wide. Inside
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the monument, there's something really special that a lot of
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visitors miss, the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It's guarded
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by soldiers who stand completely still, and there's an eternal
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flame burning. The atmosphere here is completely different from the
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grandeur outside. It's solemn, quiet and really moving. Every time
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I visit, I see Italian families bringing their children here
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to explain the significance. And even if you don't speak Italian,
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you can feel how important this place is to the nation.
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Let me tell you about my favorite hidden gem here
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the Museum of Italian Unification. Now, I know what you're thinking, Joe,
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did you really just call a museum about nineteen the
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century politics a hidden gem? But trust me on this one.
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First of all, it's included in your ticket, and second,
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it helps you understand why this monument exists in the
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first place. Plus, the rooms themselves are gorgeous, with these
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incredible frescoed ceilings and massive windows overlooking the city. Here's
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something practical about visiting. The entrance can be a bit
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tricky to find. While the monument dominates the skyline, the
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actual entrance is off to the side. Look for the
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stairs leading up from via day four I Imperiali. And
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speaking of stairs, there are a lot of them, but
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don't worry, there are escalators inside. Just pace yourself and
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remember that the view at the top is worth every step.
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Now let's talk about timing your visit. This place gets busy,
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but not nearly as crazy as the Colisseum or Vatican Museums.
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I recommend going first thing in the morning or late afternoon.
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If you're there when they open, you might have the
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terrace almost to yourself for a while. And unlike a
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lot of Roman attractions. This one's actually great to visit
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in the heat of the day because much of it
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is air conditioned inside, and there's that wonderful breezy terrace
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at the top. The monument sits at this amazing crossroads
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of Roman history. From the top, you're looking down on
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the Roman Forum on one side and the Renaissance in
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Baroque city on the other. It's like a timeline of
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Roman history spread out before you. Our guide and again
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check the show notes for the tour. We recommend pointed
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out how you can trace the development of Rome through
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the different architectural styles you can see from up here.
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Let me tell you about a cool feature most people miss.
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The external elevators are glass walled, and the ride up
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gives you this incredible shifting perspective of the city as
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you rise. It's not for those afraid of heights, but
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if you can handle it, it's like a ride and
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a view all in one. Just remember to have your
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camera ready. A word about food. While there is that
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nice cafe on the terrace, you're also right next to
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the Monty neighborhood, which is full of great restaurants. The
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cafe is a nice place to chill and have a
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drink softer otherwise, but watch out for seagulls. I recommend
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doing the monument first, then wandering into Monty for lunch.
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The contrast between the massive white monument and the narrow,
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colorful streets of Monty is just perfect. You know what
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makes this place extra special. At night, they light it
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up dramatically, and the white marble just glows. Even if
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you tour it during the day, consider coming back after
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to see it all lit up. The area around the
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monument is safe and lively at night, with lots of
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people strolling around and taking in the view. Before we
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wrap up, let me just say, don't skip this place
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just because it's not ancient like the Colosseum or religious
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like Saint Peter's. It's a unique window into Italy's journey
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to becoming a modern nation, and those views alone are
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worth the visit. Plus, it's centrally located and easy to
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combine with other sites. Remember to check out the tours
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we recommend in our show notes. They really bring this
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place to life with stories about its construction and significance.
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And as always, if you'd like to receive these episodes
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without commercials, head over to Calaroga dot com slash plus.
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There's a link right in the show notes. This is
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Journey Joe Mitchell reminding you that the world is waiting.
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Get out there and start exploring a lot more Italy
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to come, and we're just getting started with Rome. Happy travels.
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