Trajan's Column
Rome, Italy
Vittoriano, Rome
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Photo: Paolo Costa Baldi, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Terraces free; lift ≈ €12–18
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Opening hours
- ≈ 9:30–19:30
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 1 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Stairs and lower terraces
- Free
- Rooftop lift
- ≈ €12–18 — Terrace of the Quadrigas, 360° view
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Not allowed
- Sitting on the steps, eating or drinking — guards enforce it
- Time needed
- About an hour with the lift
- Location
- Piazza Venezia; 10 minutes' walk from the Colosseum and Pantheon
Key facts
1911inaugurated for the 50th anniversary of Italian unification
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English Wikipedia1885–1935half a century of building to Giuseppe Sacconi's design
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English Wikipedia≈ 135 × 70 mwidth and height; about 81 m with the bronze quadrigas
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English Wikipedia≈ 12 mheight of the gilded equestrian statue of the king
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English WikipediaBotticinowhite marble from near Brescia — why it glares against ochre Rome
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English Wikipedia2 quadrigasbronze chariots of Unity and Liberty on the roof, 1927
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English WikipediaThe rooftop terrace and glass lift
The best reason to visit is the view. The front stairs and lower terraces are free and look over Piazza Venezia and Via del Corso. Round the back, on the Santa Maria in Aracoeli side, a glass panoramic lift rises to the topmost Terrace of the Quadrigas.
From the roof you get a 360° panorama: the Colosseum and Roman Forum one way, the domes of the centre and St Peter's the other — one of very few viewpoints right in the heart of the city. Lift tickets cost €12–18 depending on the source; the desk is at the Aracoeli entrance.
What is the Vittoriano?
It honours Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of unified Italy. Architect Giuseppe Sacconi won the design competition in 1884, and building took fifty years, 1885–1935; the monument was inaugurated in 1911 for the 50th anniversary of unification.
It's enormous — about 135 metres wide and 70 metres high, or 81 metres to the top of the bronze quadrigas. Built of brilliant white Botticino marble, it stands out like snow against Rome's warm ochre roofs. Romans have never quite loved it, nicknaming it 'the typewriter' and 'the wedding cake'.
What to see
- Equestrian statue of Victor Emmanuel II — gilded bronze about 12 metres high.
- Quadrigas on the roof — bronze chariots of Unity and Liberty.
- Fountains of the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian Seas — at either side of the base.
- Curved colonnade — 16 columns on the top tier, with statues of Italy's regions.
- Terrace of the Quadrigas — the highest platform, reached by lift.
- Museum of the Risorgimento — inside, on 19th-century Italian unification.
- Imperial Fora view — from the side terraces towards the Colosseum.
How to get to the Vittoriano
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Trajan's Column is about 7 min away on foot.
- Capitoline Hill is about 5 min away on foot.
- Capitoline Museums is about 5 min away on foot.
More tips
- Walk from the Colosseum: 10 minutes along Via dei Fori Imperiali.
- From the Pantheon: 10 minutes via Via del Plebiscito.
- Buses 40, 64, 70 and 87 and tram 8 stop at Piazza Venezia.
- The lift entrance is at the back, by the Aracoeli steps.
Best time to visit
Afternoon light is best, especially towards sunset, when the sun sinks behind the domes and the city turns orange. Mornings are quieter and light the Colosseum well. In summer the lower terraces get hot — the white marble reflects the sun.
Is the Vittoriano worth it?
Yes, for the panorama — nearly every landmark of the centre in one sweep, and a handy way to get your bearings on day one. Love it or hate it, you can't miss the building itself. To avoid paying, enjoy the free lower terraces or walk next door to the Capitoline Hill.
Before you go
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Rome viewpoints: compare and choose
Places in Rome with a view, rated by YesGo. Click a column header to sort.
| Colosseum | 73 | 2 h | ≈ €18 | 16 min walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Peter's Basilica | 71 | 1 h 30 min | Free; dome ≈ €8–15 | 45 min walk |
| Roman Forum | 63 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ €18 with Colosseum | 6 min walk |
| Circus Maximus | 63 | 30 min | Free | 17 min walk |
| Spanish Steps | 62 | 20 min | Free | 22 min walk |
| Vittorianoyou are here | 61 | 1 h | Terraces free; lift ≈ €12–18 | — |
| Capitoline Hill | 58 | 30 min | Free | 3 min walk |
| Castel Sant'Angelo | 57 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ €15–20 | 29 min walk |
| Palatine Hill | 54 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ €18 with Colosseum | 14 min walk |
| Quirinal Palace | 50 | 1 h 15 min | Square free; tours by booking | 12 min walk |
| Villa Borghese | 48 | 1 h 30 min | Free | 37 min walk |
| Tempietto | 45 | 20 min | Free | 27 min walk |
| Capitoline Museums | 43 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ €15–19.50 | 3 min walk |
| Pincio | 43 | 40 min | Free | 33 min walk |
| Aventine Keyhole | 42 | 45 min | Free | 23 min walk |
| Villa Medici | 38 | 1 h 30 min | Paid, scheduled tours | 26 min walk |
Piazza Venezia and the Capitoline
The Vittoriano and its rooftop lift, then the Capitoline Hill and museums, and the Forum view from the terraces behind the city hall.
- Vittorianoyou are here1 h · Terraces free; lift ≈ €12–18
- 3 min walk from the previous stopCapitoline Hill30 min · Free
- 3 min walk from the previous stopCapitoline Museums2 h 30 min · ≈ €15–19.50
- 4 min walk from the previous stopRoman Forum1 h 30 min · ≈ €18 with Colosseum
4 places · about 5 h 40 min with walks · 10 min on foot in total
Nearby and on the way
How to do it right
- The lower terraces are free and face Piazza Venezia.
- The lift entrance is at the back, by the Aracoeli steps.
- Sunset from the roof is the best view of the centre.
- No sitting on the steps.
Questions
How much is the Vittoriano lift?
About €12–18 depending on the source; the stairs and lower terraces are free.
What are the Vittoriano opening hours?
Roughly 9:30–19:30 daily, with the last lift ride earlier.
What can you see from the top?
A 360° view including the Colosseum, Roman Forum, the domes of the centre and St Peter's.
Why is it called the 'typewriter'?
For its white bulk and rows of columns that look like keys; Romans also call it 'the wedding cake'.
When was the Vittoriano built?
From 1885 to 1935; it was inaugurated in 1911.
Where is the Vittoriano?
On Piazza Venezia at the foot of the Capitoline Hill.
How long do you need?
About an hour including the lift.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- VIVE — Vittoriano e Palazzo Venezia (Italian Ministry of Culture)
- English Wikipedia, Victor Emmanuel II Monument
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