The theme for this week's photohunt is in memory..
I have recently written a post about visiting USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii, a memorial built to honor the dead in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, in 1941.That would have been perfect for the in memory theme, if I had only reviewed the themes ahead of time, but alas, I need to come up with something else.
And again this week, I am going to my favorite city in the world: Rome, and present to you Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II, the National Monument of Victor Emmanuel II.
The monument is also known as Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland), and it was built in memory of Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy.
Designed by Giuseppe Sacconi in 1895, the monument was inaugurated in 1911 and completed in 1935. The construction of the monument was controversial,since a large area of the Capitoline Hill with a Medieval neighborhood was destroyed for its sake.The monument was built of pure marble and was/is criticized for being "glaringly white" amid the brownish buildings surrounding it,which earned the monument its nickname of "the false teeth" among the Romans. Other nicknames include "English soup" and "the wedding cake".
The National Monument of Vittorio Emmanuel features majestic stairways, tall columns, fountains, a huge equestrian sculpture of Victor Emmanuel, and two statues of goddess Victoria riding on quadrigas(chariots drawn by four horses). The monument is also home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Rome.
The monument is open to visitors, who can climb up to the terrace for breathtaking views of ancient Rome. And despite its controversy, I think it is a beautiful landmark that is worth visiting.
For visitor information, one can check this website.
Happy weekend everyone, and thanks for stopping by.
Comments (32)
Terrific entry for the theme! I would love to visit there one day :)
Posted by Sue | May 8, 2009 2:25 PM
Posted on May 8, 2009 14:25
That is an amazing memorial. I must visit ROme. I am not sure why I ahve never done so, Happy weekend
Posted by jams O'Donnell | May 8, 2009 2:35 PM
Posted on May 8, 2009 14:35
Great job, Candi! I can tell you love Rome!
Posted by nancyhol | May 8, 2009 5:00 PM
Posted on May 8, 2009 17:00
This was a great post for the theme. Wonderful photographs and very informative too. Happy weekend.
Posted by Carver | May 8, 2009 5:47 PM
Posted on May 8, 2009 17:47
Great post! Another nickname for it is "the typewriter." :) I'd never heard the "false teeth" one before, too funny. I agree with you that it's worth visiting (and I didn't find it as ugly as the Romans seem to). Your photos are great!
Posted by Annie | May 8, 2009 6:23 PM
Posted on May 8, 2009 18:23
Great names for the memorial... false teeth..LOL
I loved this post!!
Posted by ann | May 8, 2009 6:32 PM
Posted on May 8, 2009 18:32
Beautiful photos of a most impressive memorial, Candi! Great details!
Mine’s In Memory of a great time to be repeated!
Posted by RJ Flamingo | May 8, 2009 6:43 PM
Posted on May 8, 2009 18:43
Thanks all for the kind comments:)
Annie, thanks, I forgot about the "typewriter" nickname. And I agree with you, I did not think it was ugly at all.
Posted by candi | May 8, 2009 8:49 PM
Posted on May 8, 2009 20:49
Great entry for this week's theme. It is truly a monumental memorial. I remember swinging past it constantly in the bus on the various visits I have made to Rome.
Happy weekend to you.
Posted by jmb | May 8, 2009 11:25 PM
Posted on May 8, 2009 23:25
This monument may be controversial, still it retains some of the old Rome magnificence.
Thanks for visiting, and have a great weekend!
Posted by SnoopyTheGoon | May 9, 2009 2:35 AM
Posted on May 9, 2009 02:35
As always gorgeous photos. The architecture is simply amazing.
Posted by Tara R. | May 9, 2009 4:07 AM
Posted on May 9, 2009 04:07
Amazing. What a great memory for you...and a wonderful tour for us.
My "In Memory" is posted. Have a great weekend.
Posted by Hootin' Anni | May 9, 2009 4:12 AM
Posted on May 9, 2009 04:12
I am always amazed by the intricate details in Roman architecture. Beautiful photos and a great slant on the theme.
Posted by JyLnC | May 9, 2009 4:15 AM
Posted on May 9, 2009 04:15
Those are amazing shots of a great place with a colorful history.
Posted by Rach (Heart of Rachel) | May 9, 2009 5:30 AM
Posted on May 9, 2009 05:30
this is great. I love Rome and I wish to visit one of these days.
Thanks for the preview
Posted by laagan | May 9, 2009 6:03 AM
Posted on May 9, 2009 06:03
Its a great entries thanks for sharing this. TC mine is ready also.
Posted by gengen | May 9, 2009 6:07 AM
Posted on May 9, 2009 06:07
One of my favorite "newer" buildings in Rome. I also agree that the building is not ugly.
Posted by Deborah | May 9, 2009 6:49 AM
Posted on May 9, 2009 06:49
Hi Candi --
Why "English soup"? That sounds funny - peculiar but also haha!
Posted by YTSL | May 9, 2009 7:42 AM
Posted on May 9, 2009 07:42
Beautiful post!
I will be right there in 9 days. Am I excited???
Posted by sandi @ the whistlestop cafe | May 9, 2009 8:02 AM
Posted on May 9, 2009 08:02
That's impressive. Now I'm glad you didn't read ahead.
Posted by Alice Audrey | May 9, 2009 9:51 AM
Posted on May 9, 2009 09:51
Hi Candi, great choice for this week's theme. I love your photos! I had not heard of the nick names before. :)
I had the pleasure of visiting this incredible monument in 2005 and your post really brought back great memories of that visit for me!
Thank you for this wonderful post Candi! Have a great weekend!
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | May 9, 2009 10:04 AM
Posted on May 9, 2009 10:04
Thanks all for the nice comments.
YTSL-I am not sure why it is called Zuppa Englese, but it refers to some custard desert.
Posted by candi | May 9, 2009 12:39 PM
Posted on May 9, 2009 12:39
Thanks for the tour of a place I'd love to visit.
My Post:
http://cowardscorner-nitwit1.blogspot.com
Posted by NitWit1 | May 9, 2009 2:17 PM
Posted on May 9, 2009 14:17
Wonderful post, Candi! We passed this monument many times when in Rome (my mom, sister and I were there for 5 days in March 2006). Seeing your lovely photos brought back memories. Thanks so much!
Posted by Anne | May 9, 2009 2:18 PM
Posted on May 9, 2009 14:18
We saw this on our trip to Rome but didn't have time to go inside... a very impressive building! Mine is up here.
Posted by srp | May 9, 2009 3:47 PM
Posted on May 9, 2009 15:47
Great choice! I never heard of false teeth either. I was scolded by some guards when I was there. I guess I stepped somewhere I wasn't supposed to while taking a photo of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Posted by girasoli | May 9, 2009 4:17 PM
Posted on May 9, 2009 16:17
Definitely great choice. I've always known it as the wedding cake but you are right - it is a memorial.
I loved the building. We walked by it daily when I visited Rome in 2004.
Posted by Marta | May 9, 2009 9:08 PM
Posted on May 9, 2009 21:08
i'm loving the photos. i've always wanted to visit Rome. thanks for sharing.
Posted by luna miranda | May 9, 2009 10:57 PM
Posted on May 9, 2009 22:57
Thank you for all who commented:)
girasoli, LOL about being scolded by some of the guards.But you got the picture, right?
Posted by candi | May 10, 2009 1:02 AM
Posted on May 10, 2009 01:02
very impressive memorials. hope you have a fantastic trip
Posted by kissedalotatoads | May 10, 2009 8:59 AM
Posted on May 10, 2009 08:59
Really wonderful photos for this week. :)
Posted by Leslie | May 11, 2009 4:19 AM
Posted on May 11, 2009 04:19
Good one! The monument is also known as “the typewriter”.
Posted by María I. | May 11, 2009 10:27 AM
Posted on May 11, 2009 10:27