The best Venetian palazzos. Venice square in rome

At any time of the year, even if the weather is not too happy for the guests of the city, central part Rome is filled with a huge number of people. Even those who have already been to Rome more than once cannot deny themselves the pleasure of visiting the most famous of the numerous squares of the city - Piazza Venezia. Piazza Venezia - that's what they call it great place where most Roman tour guides start hiking trails.

However, tourists who come to Rome often visit Piazza Venezia on their own to enjoy its splendor without haste, enjoying contemplation amazing beauty Venetian Palace, admire the main attraction of the square - a grandiose monument towering in its center.

This majestic monument erected in honor of Vittoria Emmanuele - the first king of United Italy. Marble benches are installed along the perimeter of the square, inviting tired travelers to sit down, and parked carts await those wishing to take a walk around Rome on horseback.

Where did the name of the square come from?

Piazza Venezia owes its name to magnificent palace, erected in 1455 by decree of Pietro Barbo, the Venetian cardinal. Subsequently, he became known under the name of Pope Paul II. The creator of the palace project was the architect Leon Battista Alberti, well-known in those years, and Bernardo Rosselino supervised its construction.

In 15th century Italy, building materials cost a lot of money, and the country's financial situation was not very good. That's why most of The palace was built from ancient Roman buildings. Even became the material for the construction of the palace of Venice.

Over the years that have passed since the completion of construction, the Venice Palace has been used for various purposes, has changed a solid number of owners. Now the Palace building houses two museums. Chief among them - National Museum specializing in the preservation of decorative arts. However, a much larger number of tourists visit the Chere Museum, where wax figures are placed. famous people, as well as recreated the interior of the office, owned by Mussolini.

What else attracts tourists to Piazza Venezia?

Each of the tourists pays attention to the Basilica of San Marco, also included in palace complex. Since it was rebuilt many times, its original appearance has not been preserved. Now its main decoration is an ensemble consisting of three arches and a loggia, as well as a magnificent mosaic depicting Jesus Christ and the apostles.

As already mentioned, the Vittoriano monument is an integral part of the square. Its construction, which ended in 1911, took about 25 years. The ensemble was completely completed in 1935, when the composition was supplemented by a monument to the unknown soldier, called the Altar of the Fatherland.

Several floors of this building are occupied by a museum dedicated to the history of Italy, and in its upper part there is an observation deck with great view on the street of Rome. Walking along Piazza Venezia, you can visit several more interesting museums.

How to get there?

Finding Piazza Venezia in Rome is easy. It is close to Terimini Station and for those who are not too fond of walking tours can be reached by bus. Buses with numbers 175, 50, 64 go from the station to Venice Square. If you use the metro, then final destination trips will become Colosseo or Cavour station. Piazza Venezia is a 10-minute leisurely walk from them.

Altar of the Fatherland

At the foot of the monument Altape of the Fatherland(Altare della Patria, Angelo Zanelli, 1924) buried the coffin with the ashes of the Unknown Soldier. The Eternal Flame burns here and there is a guard of honor of the Bersaliers, soldiers of the elite rifle units of the Italian army.

To the left of the steps of the monument, one of the few monuments from the times of Republican Rome attracts attention. A two-story building made of travertine, from which the base with an inscription and fragments of columns have been preserved, is a tombstone of the 1st century BC. e., delivered by the “Senate and the Roman people” to Gaius Publication Bibulus, an aedile, that is, an official in charge of building temples and holding public events.

insula

To the right of the Altar of the Fatherland there is another ancient monument - insula (insula), a typical Roman multi-storey house of the 2nd century. In ancient times, such houses were built due to the overpopulation of the city. This building was five-story, the excavation shows the first floor, where shops and warehouses were usually located. The rest of the floors were occupied by apartments, which the owner of the house rented out to the tenants. Today, tourists can go inside through a door made at the level of the second floor.

Museum of the Risorgimento

From the side via dei Fori Imperialiunder monument, right at the base of the building, located ( Museo centrale del Risorgimento). Risorgimento - the period of the struggle for the unification of Italy (1815-1871), and the museum is dedicated to the political, economic and social history countries of the XVIII-XX centuries.

Palazzo Venice

The western side of Piazza Venezia (left, if viewed from the monument) is occupied by palazzo venice 38 (Palazzo Venice, Giuliano da Maiano, 1455). The massive cubic building with a square corner tower, which gave the name of the square, was built for the Venetian cardinal Pietro Barbo, the future Pope Paul II, and was originally called the Palace of St. Mark ( Palazzo di S. Marco). Rectangular teeth, which decorate the cornice of the palace, betray the owner's belonging to the Guelph party - one of the most important political forces of medieval Italy. In the endless confrontation between the popes and the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, the Guelphs supported the pope. Opponents of the Guelphs, the Ghibellines, preferred the “dovetail” crenellations (such crenellations adorn the walls of the Moscow Kremlin).

In 1564-1797, the palace was occupied by the embassy of the Republic, since then the building has had its modern name. During the years of fascism (1922-1943), the palace was the official residence of Benito Mussolini, from a small balcony above the main entrance ("Mussolini's balcony"), the dictator made several famous speeches.

talking statues

At a time when the popes ruled the city and no one could even think about freedom of speech, the inhabitants of Rome had the opportunity to express their political position anonymously, or rather, on behalf of one of the six statues - Pasquino, Marforio, Il Babbuino, Madame Lucrezia, Il Faccino Or Abbot Luigi. Short notes were attached to the pedestals of these statues, criticizing and ridiculing the authorities, usually in verse.

The following lines were dedicated to Pope Nicholas V, merciless towards his enemies:

Da quando e Niccolo papa e assassino,

abbonda a Roma il sangue e scarso e il vino

Since Nicholas became a dad and a murderer,

In Rome there is an excess of blood and a lack of wine.

Sometimes the statues exchanged remarks, for example, when Rome was sacked by the Napoleonic troops, Marforio asked: “Is it true that all the French are thieves?”, To which Pasquino, having beaten the name of the French emperor, replied: Tutti no, ma Bona parte("Not all, but most").

Altar of the Fatherland

Piazza Venezia
09.00–18.00

National Museum of Palazzo Venice

Via del Plebesccito, 118
Tue–Sun 08.30–19.30, Dec 25, Jan 1, Aug 15 closed

Basilica San Marco

Piazza di San Marco, 48
summer Mon–Sun 07.00–12.30 and 16.00–18.30

Piazza Venezia on the map of Rome:

Piazza Venezia is the starting point of many tourist routes, as it is located in the center of Rome and is considered one of the main squares of the city. Piazza Venezia has not lost its importance since the Middle Ages, when it was the intersection of important trade routes. Now it is crossed by six important streets of Rome. In the 15th century, on the instructions of Cardinal Pietra Barbo, at the foot of the Capitol, the Palace of Venice was built, which gave the name Piazza.

Piazza Venezia: history

Today, Piazza Venezia is the center from which the Roman streets diverge like the rays of the sun. They will lead to the Colosseum, to St. Peter's Square, the famous Roman quarter of Trastevere. From here begins the main shopping street with various shops and boutiques - Via del Corso.

In the Middle Ages, when Cardinal Barbo became Pope Paul II, on his orders, the square became the venue for the traditional Roman carnival. The main event of the festivities was the wild horse racing, which was later abolished by Victor Emmanuel II, after whose reign the square began to change its appearance. The construction of the Vittoriano monument and the expansion of the territory began.

In all corners of the piazza you can see a lot interesting places associated with historical events cities. Not far from the church of San Marco, a bust of Madame Lucrezia has been standing since the time of the papal rule. In the Middle Ages, criticism of the authorities was forbidden, so the people expressed their dissatisfaction on paper and pasted it on the bust. According to some sources, the bust of Madama Lucretia depicted the goddess Isis. According to another version, this bust was erected in honor of the beloved woman of King Alphonse of Aragon - Lucrezia Borgia. Lucrezia patronized artists and musicians.

Legends also hover around the Bonaparte Palace, which stands out on the square with its green balcony. Napoleon's mother, Laetitia Bonoparte, loved this place very much, but she was so talkative and curious that, without a twinge of conscience, she discussed the outfits passing by the ladies. This behavior did not reflect well on the reputation of the emperor, and he ordered the balcony to be shuttered.

Palace of Venice

The Palazzo, built by order of Cardinal Barbo, is considered one of the first monuments of the Renaissance. The Roman Forums, the Colosseum in the middle of the 15th century had no historical significance, they were broken down to use the stone for new buildings. It was with stones from the Colosseum that the palace of Venice was built. The windows in the building are not symmetrical - this was done in order to evil spirits couldn't get inside.
The palazzo had many owners. Initially, it housed the embassy of Venice, which gave the name to the palace. After being occupied by Austria, it was the Austrian embassy for a long time. Then it was occupied by the Fascist Party of Italy, led by Benito Mussolini.

The building now houses the national historical Museum, which presents items related to the historical period from the Middle Ages to 19th century. The museum is open six days a week, except Mondays from 8.30 to 19.30. But tourists are always most interested in the Chere Museum, located in the same building. You can see the exposition wax figures famous personalities and Mussolini's cabinet, recreated to the smallest detail.

Church of San Marco

Practically being part of the palace of Venice, the church of San Marco rises on the square - the oldest basilica in the city. The 4th century building was rebuilt several times. By order of Cardinal Barbo, it was made part of the Palace of Venice during its construction. In the middle of the 18th century, the basilica was again subjected to reconstruction, after which all the decoration was made in the Baroque style. But, despite all the alterations, the church has preserved a colorful mosaic dating from the 9th century, depicting Jesus Christ surrounded by saints and part of the floor from the time of Pope Paul II. Under the altar are the relics of one of the popes - Mark. Entrance to the church is free. But it is recommended to take coins with you to throw them into the bowl for "defiling the temple".

Vittoriano

The very square of Venice in Rome, which has a rectangular shape, does not represent anything outstanding. Unusual makes it a monument to the first king of united Italy, Victor Emmanuel II - Vittoriano, erected on a slope capitol hill. The author of the monument was Giuseppe Sacconi, according to whose drawings construction continued for fifty years. He won the competition announced by the government. But in his developments, the architect relied on the exact requirements of the customer: the place is the northern slope of the Capitol, the statue of the equestrian is obligatory and the rear arbitrary building that closes the church of Santa Maria in Araceli. All structures were made of marble quarried in the province of Brescia.
The main part of the ensemble is a statue depicting Victor Emmanuel seated on a horse. It is cast in bronze and has a height of 12 meters. Until now, the first king is revered by the Italians as a liberator and protector.

The "Altar of the Fatherland" is located under the statue of the king. It was built in 1906 by the sculptor Angello Zanelli and was conceived as the personification of labor and love for the Fatherland. All images decorating the bas-reliefs are allegorical and symbolize agriculture, industry, and the fire of the motherland. Since 1921, the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, dedicated to the heroes of the First World War, has been located here.

The erection of the Vittoriano led to demolition a large number ancient buildings, but during the excavations, the ruins of a house dating back to the 2nd century AD and a Roman fortress wall were discovered, which are now available for viewing to tourists.

All buildings of the monument combine the features of many historical styles.

The entrance to the building is decorated with columns. On open area two bronze statues were installed, symbolizing the unity of the Motherland and the freedom of citizens. Two fountains in front of the building are symbols of the seas washing the peninsula: the Tyrrhenian and the Adriatic. Six statues symbolize Italian values, sixteen more Italian regions.

For such eclecticism, the presence of bulky details, their crowding, the Italians themselves do not like it. They call it "wedding cake", "false teeth", "typewriter" and it's not complete list condescendingly contemptuous names of the complex. Tourists do not miss the opportunity to take large-scale photos against such a monumental background and admire what they see. In the evening, Vittoriano is illuminated with soft light, from which its pretentiousness is smoothed out, and it becomes even more beautiful.

The Vittoriano ensemble includes two museums: the Risorgimento and the flags of the navy.

Here is one of the best viewing platforms in the city. In December, the largest Christmas tree is set up in Piazza Venezia. In the same place, a park of horse-drawn carts settled, ready to take tourists to any part of Rome.

How to get there

Piazza Venezia is located near the Teremini station, from which three bus routes: 50, 64, 175. Near the Basilica of San Marco tram stop number 8. The closest metro stations to the square are: Colosseo, Cavour. They are located a 10-minute walk from Piazza Venezia. The road from the metro goes along the imperial forums, bronze sculptures that have turned green from time to time.

). It was built by order of Cardinal Pietro Barbo, who later became Pope Paul II.

He was originally from Venice and became famous for being very fond of beautiful things and works of art. Over time, the cardinal's palace turned into a real museum. Pietro Barbo loved so much gems that a legend was born, according to which Barbo died of cold, from the large number of stones that he wore. After the death of Pope Paul II, the cardinals lived in his palace, who were the abbots of the nearby church of San Marco.

Palace architecture

In its form, the Palazzo Venezia is a huge building of an elongated shape, with numerous windows overlooking the square. Palace walls decorated with battlements, which gives the palace a look medieval fortress. At the end of the 15th century, the palace was rebuilt, as a result of which the double gothic arches, which previously framed the windows of the second floor. For the construction of the palace, stones were actively used, which were mined from the Roman Colosseum.

Unfortunately, the practice of building at the expense of ancient monuments lasted long enough, and many monuments of the ancient era disappeared due to this reason. Until 1564, the palace was occupied by the popes, and after this palace was donated to Venice and became residence of the Venetian ambassador in Rome. Today the Palace of Venice is one of the central Roman museums.

In this article, we have combined three famous and main attractions of Rome. We united them according to the principle of a nearby location to each other. Or rather, not the location, but the concentration around one well-known Roman square - Venice Square.

It is Venice Square that acts as the basis and connecting link of all other objects, they are located around it, on it. In addition, it is impossible to consider each attraction separately, since only all the objects in an osprey make up that unchanging and so beautiful Palazzo Venice.

But first things first. So,

Piazza Venezia in Rome

The Roman square of Venice is called Piazza Venezia (Piazza Venezia) and is a famous and extensive square located in the very center the Italian capital. It is from this area, as a rule, that everything originates. sightseeing tours in Rome, it is also she who stands in the forefront of the main and most memorable sights of Rome. Piazza Venezia gives rise to the main streets of Rome.

The square is located at the foot of the Capitoline Hill, near the Roman Forum and, as well as within walking distance from the main railway station Rome - Termini (Roma Termini). Arriving at the station and, the first thing we met along the way was Piazza Venezia.

This area is called the Palazzo Venice for a reason. It was here, back in the fifteenth century, that the Venetian cardinal Pietro Barbo (later Pope Paul II) built a palace, where after 1567 the embassy of the Venetian Republic was located. So, thanks to the embassy of Venice, the square got its name. And this is not the only case for Rome, as there is in Rome, which got its name also due to the fact that the Spanish embassy was and is located on the territory of the square.

There is nothing special about the square itself. Perhaps the tourists would have bypassed it, and the lists of sights would have put the piazzo in the last rows, if not for one but ... It is here, in the very center of the square, that the most beautiful and somewhat unusual in its architecture monument erected in honor of the first king of united Italy is located , Victor Emmanuel II.

Vittoriano ( Italian name Vittoriano), this is the very monument in honor of King Emmanuel II, which serves as a symbol of united Italy.

This palace, if you can call it that, but we will call it that here, because it looks very much like a small palace or a cake. So, it is this palace, and not the square, that catches the eye and makes an impression.

The Vittoriano project was designed by the Italian architect Giuseppe Sacconi in the style of late classicism and the spirit of ancient Roman architecture. The construction of this majestic building began in 1885 and was carried out until 1935 inclusive.

The main and central part of the monument, which is an invariable decoration of Vittoriano, is a twelve-meter bronze equestrian statue of King Victor Emmanuel II. The statue of Victor rises majestically above the central staircase.

The creators of the monument did their best, maybe even overdone it. Sometimes you look at the statue and you get the impression that the monument is simply cluttered with details and decorations that frame the bronze equestrian statue of the king. Various statues, columns, bas-reliefs and other patterns endow the monument with a luxury that looks excessive. Even among the Romans themselves, there are various condescendingly contemptuous names for this monument, the most famous of which are: “Typewriter”, “Wedding Cake”, “Jaw” and others.

Although, on the other hand, it is precisely these details that attract the eye, making Vittoriano and the square so special.

The statue of Vittoriano is also called "Altar of the Fatherland" ( Altare della Patria). The statue got its second name due to the fact that at the foot of the equestrian statue is the tomb of the unknown soldier. A guard of honor is constantly on duty at the grave.

In general, in terms of architecture, the entire palace has many decorative elements, columns and monuments, which gives it such a colorful and idle look.

In the evening, when it gets dark, the Vittoriano is illuminated with soft lights, which smooth out the immodest pretentiousness and the palace looks even more beautiful than in the daytime.

The Vittoriano houses two museums - the Risorgimento and the flags of the navy. Admission is free, open to visitors during the day.

This is what Venice Square looked like in the 1930s

On the territory of Vittoriano, in addition to museums, there are viewing platforms and a cafeteria. From the observation deck - Terrazza delle Quadrighe, a good panorama of the nearby environs of Rome opens.

View of Trajan's Forum

We are on observation deck. Just happy