Thursday 23 July 2009

The Vittoriano and the statue of Vittorio Emanuele II


The Vittoriano monument, dedicated to the first italian king, Vittorio Emanuele II who died in 1878, is one of the most photographed monuments in Rome, although the whiteness of its marbles doesn't really match with the surrounding monuments and colours of the city. All the statues and sculptures have huge dimensions. The equestrian statue of Vittorio Emanuele II is colossal: it is long and high 12 meters, it weighs 50 tons and the hoof of the horse is half meter! When it was placed where it is today, a lunch was offered inside the horse with 21 people participating!