The Vittoriano

You cannot miss the Vittoriano. Officially the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of united Italy, it rises in dazzling white marble above Piazza Venezia, at the very centre of the city, and Romans have given it many nicknames, from the wedding cake to the typewriter. Begun in the late nineteenth century and inaugurated in 1911, though finished only decades later, it was built to celebrate Italian unification and is also known as the Altare della Patria, the Altar of the Fatherland, because it holds the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded day and night by soldiers and marked by an eternal flame. Love it or hate it, its staircases, colonnades and terraces offer some of the best views in Rome, because the monument is the one place where you can stand above the ancient heart of the city. The highlight is the panoramic Terrazza delle Quadrighe at the very top, named for the two huge bronze chariots that crown the colonnade, each drawn by four horses and representing Unity and Liberty. Glass lifts, added in the 2000s, whisk you up the back of the monument in well under a minute, and the 360-degree view takes in the Roman Forum and Colosseum on one side, the domes of the centro storico and St Peter's on the other, the Capitoline Hill, the Quirinale and, on clear days, the hills around the city. The monument is managed by the state museum institute VIVE, which also runs Palazzo Venezia, and includes the Central Museum of the Risorgimento, devoted to the story of unification. Parts of the monument have traditionally been open to walk without charge, while the lift and the museum spaces are ticketed.

Practical rhythm: climb the front steps for the first views over Piazza Venezia and the Via del Corso, then follow signs around to the rear of the monument, toward the Aracoeli side, for the lifts. Entrances are on Piazza Venezia, Via di San Pietro in Carcere and Via del Teatro di Marcello. Tickets for the lift and museum areas are sold on site and through VIVE's official ticketing page; ticket types and inclusions change, so check what is covered before you buy. Expect a security check. Allow about an hour, longer if you visit the Risorgimento museum.

When to go: the terrace is wonderful at any hour, but late afternoon gives warm light on the Forum and the domes, and VIVE has run special evening openings in some seasons, which are worth looking out for. In summer, the white marble reflects a lot of heat, so carry water and sunglasses. Visitors are expected to behave respectfully near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is a national memorial: no sitting on the steps, eating or loud behaviour, and guards will remind you.

Why go: for first-time visitors, the terrace explains the city's geography in one sweeping view, and it is a great way to orient yourself before or after the Forum, which lies just below. Families like the lift ride and the guards. Couples can time it for the end of the day, then walk down to the Capitoline Hill for the floodlit Forum, or through the Jewish Ghetto for dinner. History buffs can pair the museum with the Capitoline Museums next door for a journey from ancient to modern Rome.