 Piazza
Venezia is named after the famous Palazzo Venezia. This large and
sunny square is the hub of the city. It is close to many important
tourist attractions like the Roman Forum and Capitol Hill. This
is perhaps the only piazza, which is relatively square in shape.
 Palazzo
Venezia was built by cardinal Pietro Barbo who later became Pope
Paul I in 1455. It is built around the church of San Marco and was
used as a papal residence by many popes. Benito Mussolini spoke
to the crowds from the first floor of Palazzo Venezia. When the
Vittorio Emmanuelle monument was built the Palazzo was moved and
the Assicurazioni Generali di Venezia palace was built.
 On
the southern side of the piazza one can find a truly monumental
structure, which almost dominates the entire piazza. It is an impressive
and beautiful complex built between1885 and 1905 to celebrate the
unification of Italy. It is officially known as the Altar of the
Fatherland. Many ancient and medieval structures were razed to build
this monument. An impressive staircase rises to the top of the Altar
of the Fatherland. A statue of the goddess Roma adorns the center.
Two lateral staircases lead to the 12 metre high statue of King
Vittorio Emmanuelle II. In the last century piazza Venezia was considered
as a worthy place for the monument of king Vittorio Emmanuelle II.
 This
is one of the few structures in Italy, which arouses an ambivalent
attitude in its citizens, and almost everyone has his or her own
individual opinion on it. In 1921 the tomb of the Unknown Soldier
was incorporated into the monument.
Towards the left behind the monument one can find the Risorgimento
Museum. This is a museum, which is dedicated to the cause of the
nationalist movement.  This
brought on the resurgence of the Italian movement, which lead to
the unification of Italy in 1861by the coming together of many little
states under the House of Savoy Via Corso meets piazza Venezia it
its northern end. Palazzo Bonaparte lies on the western corner of
the piazza and the Corso. This is where Napoleon’s mother
lived after the fall of the French empire.
This piazza is one of the busiest and most happening areas since
it is in the bus route of almost all the buses which run through
the city so it is a frequently visited square in Italy which takes
pride in both its modernity and antiquity.
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