Architectural and artistic works of the Vittoriano



The architectural and artistic works of the Vittoriano, an Italian national monument located in Rome on the northern slope of the Capitoline Hill, represent, through allegories and personifications, the virtues and sentiments that motivated Italians during the Risorgimento, the period during which Italy achieved its national unity and liberation from foreign domination. For this reason, the Vittoriano is considered one of Italy's patriotic symbols.

It was the monument's designer, Giuseppe Sacconi, who decided to place only exclusively allegorical works of art, because he believed that only through art devoid of any reference to contemporaneity could the monument be given a universal value that would not be affected by the passage of time. Sacconi had to repeatedly counter the various proposals to place inside the building works of art that also represented precise historical figures and facts, beyond, naturally, King Victor Emmanuel II, to whom the monument is dedicated.

The architectural centerpiece of the Vittoriano is the equestrian statue of Victor Emmanuel II, the only non-allegorical representation in the monument. The term "Vittoriano" derives precisely from the name of Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy, the first king of united Italy, one of the protagonists of the Risorgimento and the process of Italian unification, so much so that he is referred to by historiography as one of the four "Fathers of the Fatherland," along with Cavour, for his political and diplomatic work, Garibaldi, for his military actions, and Mazzini, whose thought illuminated the minds and actions of Italian patriots.

Overview


Rising on the Capitoline Hill, the Vittoriano stands in the symbolic center of ancient Rome and is connected to modern Rome by roads that radiate out from Piazza Venezia. The monumental complex of the Vittoriano is 70 meters high (81 meters if the crowning quadrigas of the two propylaea are included), 135 meters wide, 130 meters deep, occupies an area of 17 550 square meters and possesses, due to the conspicuous development of the interior spaces, a walkable area of 717 000 square meters. The entrance staircase is 41 meters wide and 34 meters long, while the terrace where the Altar of the Fatherland is located is 66 meters wide. The maximum depth of the Vittoriano's basement reaches 17 meters below street level. The colonnade consists of 15-meter-high columns, and the length of the portico is 72 meters. Since June 2007, it has been possible to ascend to the terrace of the Quadrigas by taking advantage of an elevator: this terrace, which is the highest in the monument, can also be reached via 196 steps that start at the sommoportico.

One of the architecturally predominant elements of the Vittoriano are the external stairways, consisting of a total of 243 steps, and the portico located at the top of the monument, sandwiched between two lateral propylaea. The portico of the Vittoriano is called the "sommoportico" because of its elevated position (from "sommo," meaning "high," "great," "highest part.") Another architecturally significant element is the wide colonnade of Corinthian order that characterizes the sommoportico and the two propylaea.

The allegories (i.e., abstract concepts expressed through concrete images) of the Vittoriano's artistic works represent, according to the canons of the Neoclassical style, mostly the virtues and sentiments, often rendered through personifications, that motivated the Italians in their struggles for national unity during the Risorgimento, understood as the period from the uprisings of 1820-1821 to the capture of Rome (1870), or, according to others, to victory in World War I. In the Vittoriano, statues of winged Victories, both in marble and bronze, stand out as symbols of the auspiciousness of the realization of Italian national unity.

There are also numerous artistic works that recall the history of ancient Rome. In fact, since its inauguration, the Vittoriano complex also celebrates the greatness and majesty of Rome, which is elected to the role of the legitimate capital of Italy. Various plant symbols are present, including the palm (recalling victory), oak (strength), laurel (victorious peace), myrtle (sacrifice) and olive (concord). All the works of art created for the Vittoriano engaged the major artists then active in Italy.

The Vittoriano contains widespread allegorical meanings that, in the intentions of their makers, should have been clear and unambiguous. According to some authors, however, this goal was not achieved, as the works, in their view, often suffered from ambiguous interpretations. Those who argue for this inherent ambivalence of the Vittoriano find its causes in the Risorgimento, which, according to the revisionist view, was characterized by a dual nature: on the one hand there would have been the patriots, and on the other hand the silent majority, consisting mainly of peasants and the middle class, who would have remained indifferent to the process of Italian unification. The patriots themselves, moreover, had different views on the future system of Italian government: from the beginning they were in fact divided into centralists and federalists, into monarchists and republicans. All of them, in any case, recognized themselves in the same tricolor flag and shared the same ideals of unity and independence.

To this must be added the historical stratification and the profound difference in the Vittoriano's public use, particularly the political contrast between liberal and fascist Italy in spreading their respective political messages. While liberal Italy saw the Vittoriano as a secular temple where the unity and freedom of the homeland could be metaphorically celebrated, Fascism viewed the monument as a stage where the country's aggressive military might could be flaunted. Finally, since the birth of the Italian Republic it has been regarded as the "forum of the Republic." From a stylistic point of view, the architecture and works of art that embellish the Vittoriano were conceived with the aim of creating a "national style," a model to be used later in other areas as well. This was, in fact, the need expressed by art critics in the first decades of unification, in which the nation was fine-tuning its identity also from an artistic point of view. This "national style," according to Camillo Boito, who was its theorist, could not be new in plan, but rather, in order to have a fully national character, it would have to connect to the Italian architecture of the past; the study of the classics, however, was to be considered a point of departure and not of arrival. This is what Sacconi wanted to achieve and felt obliged to.

In this regard, for the realization of the Vittoriano, Giuseppe Sacconi took his cue from neoclassical architecture, the heir of classical Greek and Roman architecture, on which Italic elements were grafted according to the spirit of Eclecticism. Sacconi also kept in mind the architectural style in vogue during the Second French Empire of Napoleon III (1852-1870), which was very common in the new buildings constructed in Paris at that time, leading to the complete transformation of the French capital; in fact, this style was the only one he appreciated among those contemporary to him, although he disagreed with its excessive ornamentation and sumptuousness. According to some authors, Sacconi was also inspired by the forms used, including in the colonial sphere, by several imperialist nations of the time such as the United Kingdom, France, the German Empire, and Belgium.

The fountains of the two seas
Leaning against the Vittoriano's exterior basement, on either side of the entrance gate to Piazza Venezia, are the "fountains of the two seas," dedicated to the Adriatic Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea, respectively. Both are set in a flowerbed and possess, since their origin, a hydraulic system that recycles their water, avoiding waste. At one time, there was also an active 500,000-liter water cistern, later abandoned, located in the monument's basement.

The two fountains represent the two major Italian seas, which line the side shores of the Italian peninsula, symbolized instead by the Vittoriano: In this way, the entire country is represented, also geographically. To the right of the fountain of the Adriatic Sea are the remains of the tomb of Gaius Publicus Bibulus, a monument from the Republican era and an important landmark for ancient Roman toponymy.

Features


The Vittoriano's external staircases fit the sides of the northern slope of the Capitoline Hill and lead, starting from the entrance in Piazza Venezia, to the terrace of the Altar of the Fatherland, then to the terrace of the redeemed cities (the one immediately below the colonnade of the sommoportico) and finally to the terraces of the two propylaea, which flank the sommoportico, constituting its entrances.

The Vittoriano was conceived as a large forum open to the citizens, a kind of elevated square in the heart of the capital organized as an agora on three levels where there are ample spaces reserved for the transit and stopping of visitors, of which the stairways and terraces constitute the fundamental element.

The monument, as a whole, appears as a kind of marble covering of the northern slope of the Capitoline Hill: it was therefore conceived as a place where it is possible to take an uninterrupted patriotic walk among the works present, almost all of which have allegorical meanings related to the history of Italy. In fact, the path has no architectural end, as there are two entrances to the highest part, one for each propylaeum.

The path along the staircase continues even beyond the tomb of the Unknown Soldier to symbolically represent a continuous and uninterrupted procession of Italians that continues its walk to the highest point of the building, namely the sommoportico and propylaea. The Vittoriano was conceived as a place where it is possible to take an uninterrupted patriotic walk (in fact, the route has no architectural end, since there are two entrances to the highest part, one for each propylaeum) among the works present, almost all of which have allegorical meanings related to the history of Italy.

At the entrance there is an imposing staircase leading to the terrace of the Altar of the Fatherland and the Unknown Soldier and representing the Vittoriano's first elevated platform as well as its symbolic center. The path along the staircase also continues beyond the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to symbolically represent a continuous and uninterrupted procession of Italians continuing their walk to the highest point of the building: the sommoportico and propylaea.

The artistic entrance gate to the Vittoriano, the work of Manfredo Manfredi, has the peculiarity of being "retractable," meaning that it can slide vertically underground by means of rails. The system that allows the lowering of the railing, originally hydraulic, was considered at the time of its construction to be among the most technologically advanced in the world. The entrance gate is 40 meters long and weighs 10,500 tons.

The entrance staircase
On either side of the entrance steps are a series of sculptures that accompany visitors to the Altar of the Fatherland. The first sculptures one encounters are two gilded bronze sculptural groups, with subjects inspired by Giuseppe Mazzini's thought: The Thought and The Action (on the left and right of the staircase, respectively, for those coming from Piazza Venezia), followed by two sculptural groups (again, one on each side) depicting as many Winged Lions, and finally, at the top of the staircase, before the beginning of the terrace of the Altar of the Fatherland, two Winged Victories.

The presence of these figures is not accidental, but rather has a precise symbolic meaning. In fact, Thought and Action were fundamental in the process of Italian unification, given that they are necessary to change the course of history and to transform a society. The overall shape of the two sculptural groups recalls the intrinsic characteristics of the two concepts: The Action has a triangular, angular outline, while The Thought has a circular shape. The two winged Lions represent the initiation of patriots who decide to join the Italian unification undertaking motivated by ardor and strength, which also control their instinctive side. The Winged Victories, in addition to recalling the military and cultural achievements of the Roman era, allegorically symbolize the good omen brought about by the realization of national unity.

The terrace of the Altar of the Fatherland
At the end of the entrance staircase, immediately after the statues of the Winged Victories, is the terrace of the Altar of the Fatherland, the first elevated platform of the Vittoriano, which is centrally dominated by the statue of the goddess Roma and the shrine of the Unknown Soldier. Also on the terrace of the Altar of the Fatherland are the sculptural groups made of Botticino marble that symbolize the moral values of Italians, that is, the ideal principles that give strength to the nation.

The four groups are 6 meters high and are located to the right and left of the entrance to the terrace of the Altar of the Fatherland (two on each side), to the side of the statues of The Thought and The Action, and at the fountains of the two seas, along the parapets overlooking Piazza Venezia. This is no accident: the concepts expressed by these four sculptural groups, The Strength, The Concord, The Sacrifice, and The Law, are the tangible emanation of The Thought and The Action.

The gates leading to the interior spaces
On either side of the Altar of the Fatherland the staircase resumes by dividing into two ramps symmetrical and parallel to the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Both reach a pronaos where two large portals stand (one on each side, both positioned symmetrically and laterally to the Unknown Soldier and each at one of the two propylaea) leading to the interior spaces of the Vittoriano.

Above each doorway are two statues: on the left doorway The Politics and The Philosophy, and on the right doorway The War and The Revolution:

The terrace of the equestrian statue of Victor Emmanuel II


From the two platforms where the gates giving access to the interior spaces open, two further flights of stairs depart, converging, exactly behind the Altar of the Fatherland, toward the base of the equestrian statue of Victor Emmanuel II: the latter is located on the second large raised platform, in order of height, of the Vittoriano. Behind the statue the staircase resumes its ascent in the direction of the sommoportico, arriving at a small terrace, from which two flights of steps depart laterally, each leading to the entrance of a propylaeum. Before reaching the entrances to the propylaea each of the two stairways breaks off, creating a small intermediate terrace shelf that provides access to the Terrace of the Redeemed Cities, the Vittoriano's third large and last elevated platform, which is located exactly behind the equestrian statue of Victor Emmanuel II and immediately below the colonnade of the sommoportico.

The terrace of the redeemed cities


The redeemed cities are those united with Italy following the Treaty of Rapallo (1920) and the Treaty of Rome (1924), peace agreements at the conclusion of World War I: these municipalities are Trieste, Trento, Gorizia, Pula, Rijeka, and Zadar.

Following the Treaties of Paris (1947), peace agreements signed by the nations participating in World War II, Pula, Rijeka and Zadar passed to Yugoslavia and - after the dissolution of the latter - to Croatia. After World War II, the territory of Gorica was divided: most of the city remained with Italy, while a small portion passed first to Yugoslavia and then to Slovenia, developing over time into the new city of Nova Gorica.

Each redeemed town is represented by an altar leaning against the back wall that bears the corresponding municipal coat of arms carved into it. The six altars were placed on the terrace between 1929 and 1930.

In detail, the description of the altars is as follows:

In the center of the row of altars of the redeemed cities, engraved on the stylobate, i.e., on the vertical wall on which the colonnade of the sommoportico rests, is a monumental inscription carved on the occasion of the solemn burial ceremony of the Unknown Soldier (November 4, 1921), which bears the text of the Victory Bulletin, an official document written after the Armistice of Villa Giusti with which General Armando Diaz, supreme commander of the Royal Army, announced, on November 4, 1918, the surrender of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Italy's victory in World War I.

At the base of the text of the Victory Bulletin are two other altars similar to those of the redeemed cities but having, instead of the coat of arms of the municipalities, a helmet:

The monumental inscription bearing the Victory Bulletin reads: "Vittoriano Proclama Diaz P1000727.jpg"

Similarly, the Bulletin of Naval Victory was signed by Admiral Paolo Thaon di Revel, supreme commander of the Royal Navy. On the other hand, no similar bulletin was drafted for the air forces, since the latter at that time still reported to the Servizio Aeronautico, a department of the Royal Army: the Regia Aeronautica, the third armed force of the Kingdom of Italy, was in fact established only in 1923, after the end of World War I.

The terrace of the redeemed cities also features a boulder from the Grappa Massif, for a year the scene of the Italian front in World War I, to represent all the places where Italian soldiers fought during this conflict.

The Altar of the Fatherland


The Altar of the Fatherland is the most famous part of the Vittoriano and is the one with which the whole monument is often identified.

Located at the top of the entrance staircase, it was designed by Brescian sculptor Angelo Zanelli, who won a competition specially held in 1906. It consists of three elements: the side of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier facing outward (while the side facing inward is located in a crypt), the aedicule of the goddess Roma (whose statue is located exactly above the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier), and two side marble reliefs.

The statue of the goddess Roma present at the Vittoriano interrupted a custom in vogue until the 19th century that wanted its representation with exclusively warlike features: Zanelli decided to further characterize the statue by also providing a reference to Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and the arts as well as of war. The large statue of the goddess emerges from a golden background. The presence in the Vittoriano of the goddess Roma is meant to reiterate the thought of the Risorgimento patriots: the Eternal City is the one and only inalienable capital of Italy, and the whole history of Italy converges toward this idea.

The Unknown Soldier, an Italian soldier who died in World War I whose identity remains unknown, was transferred to the Altar of the Fatherland on November 4, 1921. The epigraph on his tombstone bears the Latin inscription "Ignoto Militi" and the years of the beginning and end of Italian participation in World War I, namely "Mcmxv" (1915) and "Mcmxviii" (1918). His tomb is a shrine symbolically representing all the fallen and missing in the war. The side of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier facing outward at the Altar of the Fatherland is always guarded by an honor guard and two flames perpetually burning on braziers. The guard is provided by servicemen from the various arms of the Italian armed forces, who originally took turns every ten years, while later they took turns according to a schedule established from year to year.

The perpetually burning flames are a very ancient symbol, which has its origins in classical antiquity and especially in the cult of the dead: they represent the memory that remains alive despite the passage of time. In this case they thus symbolize the sacrifice of the Unknown Soldier and his imperishable memory in Italians. This is also true in those who are far from their country: not by chance, on the two perennial braziers is placed a plaque whose text reads "Italians abroad to the Motherland" in memory of the donations made by Italian emigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The detailed description of the statue of the goddess Roma is as follows:

The general conception of the bas-reliefs located laterally to the statue of the goddess Roma, one on her left and the other on her right, recalls Virgil's Bucolics and Georgics, which complete with the statue of the Roman deity the triptych of the Altar of the Fatherland. The allegorical meaning of the bas-reliefs is related to the desire to represent the Italian soul through sculpture. In fact, in the Georgics there is a reference to the Aeneid, which tells the legendary story of Aeneas, progenitor of the Roman people, while in both works the industriousness in work of the ancient Italians is evoked.

The bas-relief to the left of the Altar depicts the Triumph of Labor and converges scenographically toward the goddess Roma: with the following allegories (from left to right)

The second bas-relief, to the right of the statue of the goddess Roma, symbolizes the Triumph of Love of the Fatherland and also converges scenically toward the statue of the Roman deity. It consists of the following allegories (from left to right):

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is the scene of official ceremonies during the celebrations of the Anniversary of the Liberation of Italy (April 25), Italian Republic Day (June 2) and National Unity and Armed Forces Day (November 4), occasions when the President of the Italian Republic and the highest offices of state pay solemn homage to it.

The equestrian statue of Victor Emmanuel II


After passing the Altar of the Fatherland and continuing up the staircase, one encounters the equestrian statue of Victor Emmanuel II, a bronze work by Enrico Chiaradia and the architectural centerpiece of the Vittoriano. It is a bronze equestrian statue, 12 meters high and 10 meters long, weighing 50 tons; counting also the marble plinth, the entire sculptural group is 24.80 meters high.

Carved on the plinth are personifications of fourteen noble cities, created by Eugenio Maccagnani, a sculptor much appreciated by Sacconi. Maccagnani also decorated the lower part of the plinth with symbols of the armed forces victorious in the wars of the Risorgimento: the Engineer Corps, Navy, Artillery, and Cavalry; the obvious source of inspiration are the similar reliefs of the nearby Trajan's Column.

The statue is the only non-symbolic representation of the Vittoriano, as it is a depiction of a historical figure, King Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy. The choice to depict the sovereign on horseback is not accidental, as equestrian statues have, since the earliest times, had a precise symbolism. In classical antiquity, equestrian statues were aimed at exalting the subject portrayed, whose warlike virtues were emphasized; in addition, riding and controlling a steed communicated the character's ability to control primal instincts, thereby also acknowledging civic virtues.

The placement of the statue at the architectural center of the Vittoriano, above the Altar of the Fatherland and in front of the colonnade of the sommoportico, is also not fortuitous: in classical antiquity, equestrian statues were often located in front of colonnades, public squares, and more generally in central locations of conspicuous symbolic significance, such as along triumphal streets or in front of temples. The presence of a plinth on which the personifications of noble cities are carved is also not accidental: equestrian statues in antiquity were always erected on marble plinths complemented by inscriptions or figures.

The detailed description of the equestrian statue of Victor Emmanuel II is as follows:

The statues of the noble cities
On the base of the equestrian statue of Victor Emmanuel II, as already mentioned, are allegorical sculptures representing fourteen noble cities, that is, capitals of pre-unification noble states, historically converging toward the Kingdom of Italy and the Savoy dynasty, as it embraced the cause of the Risorgimento. Therefore, these are not necessarily the most important cities of Italy, but those considered its "noble mothers."

The fourteen statues of the noble cities are placed at the base of the equestrian statue to Victor Emmanuel II because metaphorically they are the foundations of Italy, and, in a broader sense, the unity of the Fatherland is based on the union of its municipalities.

In contrast to those representing the regions of Italy, the statues depicting the fourteen cities are all the work of the same sculptor, Eugenio Maccagnani. Each city is identifiable by its coat of arms and the symbols historically associated with it.

The list below begins with the statue placed on the front of the plinth and continues counterclockwise.

General features


Continuing up the staircase past the equestrian statue of Victor Emmanuel II, one arrives at the most architecturally impressive and conspicuous element of the entire complex: the large portico with Corinthian-style columns, slightly curved, located at the top of the monument and therefore called the "sommoportico." At its ends are two propylaea, protruding from the sommoportico, of which they constitute the entrances.

The sommoportico is 72 meters long and consists of sixteen 15-meter-high columns, topped by capitals embellished with the face of turreted Italy (located in the center) and acanthus leaves. On the frieze of the cornice are sixteen statues, allegorical personifications of the Italian regions: each statue is located at a column. For the columns of the sommoportico, Giuseppe Sacconi was inspired by those of the Temple of the Dioscuri, located in the nearby Roman Forum.

Each propylaeum is crowned by a bronze sculptural group depicting a winged Victory on a quadriga. This is reminiscent of the expressive forms of ancient Roman triumphal arches: indeed, the allegorical meaning of the quadriga, since antiquity, has been that of triumph and victory. This concept is reinforced by the presence of the winged Victories, whose meaning is related to the metaphorical communication of victory in battle through a divine message, which is allegorically delivered to the victor by winged Victories gliding from the sky.

The two quadrigas, as the Latin inscriptions placed on the pediments of the propylaea below explicitly state, symbolize the freedom of citizens ("Civium Libertati," on the right propylaeum) and the unity of the fatherland ("Patriae Unitati," on the left propylaeum), the two concepts allegorically linked to the entire monument as a symbol of "free and united Italy." The presence of winged Victories on the chariots metaphorically communicates that Italy, having won unity and freedom, is ready to spread a new Renaissance in the world, supported by the moral virtues allegorically represented in the Vittoriano.

The concepts of "freedom of citizens" and "unity of the fatherland" also summarize the fundamental themes that characterized the beginning and the end of Victor Emmanuel II's contribution to the Risorgimento. The beginning was the proclamation of Moncalieri (Nov. 20, 1849), with which the king, who had ascended the throne a few months before, confirmed the survival of the liberal regime (thus linked to the concept of "freedom of citizens") in a period marked by widespread conservatism that was a consequence of the violent repression of the 1848 uprisings. On the other hand, his political work had a happy conclusion with the capture of Rome (September 20, 1870), with which the sovereign concluded his objectives: a united Italy (which, however, still lacked Trentino, Alto Adige and Venezia Giulia, united to Italy only following the victory in World War I, which for this reason was considered by some to be the "fourth Italian war of independence") with Rome as capital (expressing the concept of "unity of the fatherland").

The quadrigas, already planned in the original design, were built and placed in 1927. Inside the pediments of the two propylaea are sculptural groups that have the same theme as the respective quadrigas above them.

In 2000, on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the school year, held at the Vittoriano, President of the Republic Carlo Azeglio Ciampi said about the inscriptions on the propylaea: "All the 'souls' of the Risorgimento found themselves united in the two inscriptions that we see up there at the top of the two propylaea: 'To the Unity of the Homeland; To the Freedom of the Citizens. It is a beautiful combination: republican Italy, with the Constitution of '48, confirmed it as its foundation."

Below is the description in detail of the quadrigas:

Inside the pediments of the two propylaea are sculptural groups that have the same theme as the respective quadriga above:

The statues of the regions


The staircase leading to the terrace of the redeemed cities is the best vantage point for the statues of the regions of Italy, which are located on the frieze of the sommoportico, each corresponding to a column. The presence of statues metaphorically portraying the regions of Italy draws inspiration from the personifications of the Roman provinces, often placed on celebratory monuments during the imperial era; as an example, suffice it to think of the reliefs of Hadrian's temple in Piazza di Pietra. For the typology of the frieze, which is very tall and has statues alternating with clipei, Sacconi was inspired by that of the portico of the nearby Forum of Trajan. Each statue is five meters high and was entrusted to a different sculptor, almost always a native of the region whose image he would carve. The cornice is also embellished with eagles and lion heads.

The number of statues placed on the cornice of the sommoportico is sixteen: in fact, at the time of the drafting of the project, as many Italian regions were identified, which, moreover, had simple geographical significance: the region as an administrative entity was implemented only with the Republican constitution.

Since the time when the Vittoriano was built, the criteria for identifying Italian regions, and sometimes even their names, have changed over the decades.
 * Valle d'Aosta and Piedmont are represented by a single statue, since they formed a single entity; Valle d'Aosta as a region was not established until 1948.
 * The Triveneto was represented as a single region, since Trentino, Alto Adige, and Venezia Giulia would only be united with Italy following victory in World War I.
 * Abruzzo and Molise were conceived as one region (Abruzzi e Molise) and would remain so until 1963.
 * Emilia-Romagna was called simply Emilia, while Basilicata was called Lucania.

In 2000, on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the school year, held at the Vittoriano, President of the Republic Carlo Azeglio Ciampi said about the statues of the regions and noble cities: "Those who wanted this monument thought of it as being dedicated to the whole of Italy, because Italy is made up of its hundred cities, its regions, its provinces, and its municipalities."

From left to right, the statues of the Italian regions are as follows:

The interior spaces
The interior spaces of the sommoportico and propylaea are accessed by two triumphal entrance staircases located at each propylaeum. The two entrance staircases are located on a small terrace reached by a short flight of steps, which begins at the terrace of the redeemed cities. At the base of the entrance steps of the propylaea are four statues of winged Victories on triumphal columns: made in 1911, two are at the entrance to the right propylaeum and two at the entrance to the left propylaeum.

The description of the Winged Victories on triumphal columns is as follows:



The entrance to each propylaeum leads to a large quadrangular vestibule, which opens onto a colonnade that offers a wide panoramic view of Rome. From the vestibules one enters the interior spaces of the sommoportico. The interiors of the propylaea and sommoportico are decorated with mosaics, important works of floral Art Nouveau and pictorial symbolism, which cover the lunettes and the two domes of the propylaea.

The mosaics of the interior spaces of the propylaea also have as their subject the metaphorical representation of the virtues and sentiments, very often rendered as allegorical personifications, that motivated the Italians during the Risorgimento. The interiors of the propylaea and the sommoportico are decorated with mosaics, important works of floral Art Nouveau and pictorial symbolism, which cover the lunettes and the two domes of the propylaea. The interiors of the sommoportico are decorated with allegories of the sciences, while the doors connecting the propylaea and the sommoportico are embellished with depictions about the arts.

The decoration of the ceiling of the left propylaeum was entrusted to Giulio Bargellini. In these mosaics he adopted innovative technical devices, such as the use of various materials and tesserae of different sizes and inclined in such a way as to create elaborate light reflections. Also noteworthy is how the lines of the mosaic representations continue toward those of the columns below.

Bargellini's mosaics along the highest part of the walls figuratively represent: Faith (allegorically rendered with the consecration of children to the homeland by the people; in the background is a city reminiscent of Jerusalem), Strength (a warrior accompanying a young man to a meeting with a woman armed with a sword), Work (personified by a family of farmers gathering together after a day in the fields), and Wisdom (depicted with a teacher in a chair in front of his pupils seated on desks).

The decoration of the ceiling of the right propylaeum was instead entrusted to Antonio Rizzi. Along the highest part of the walls, Rizzi executed: The Law (a work composed of the allegories of Justice seated on the throne, Wisdom, Wealth, Prudence, Fortitude, and Temperance, each with its classical attributes), Valor (depicted with a young man tempering his sword on the wings of Liberty and who is surrounded by the founders of the Italic lineage, including Aeneas and Ascanius), Peace (a female figure holding a sheaf of wheat and by other figures bearing the fruits of the earth, while white doves fly toward a fountain of water) and The Union (depicted with a young man meeting The Poetry).

The interior doors that lead from the two propylaea to the sommoportico are adorned with allegorical sculptures representing the arts: Architecture and Music, which are located in the left vestibule and are the work of Antonio Garella, and Painting and Sculpture, which are located in the right vestibule and were made by Lio Gangeri. The interior of the sommoportico has a floor of polychrome marbles and a coffered ceiling: the latter, which was designed by Gaetano Koch, is called the "ceiling of sciences."

The "ceiling of the sciences" owes its name to the bronze sculptures by Giuseppe Tonnini placed inside the sommoportico, which represent the Allegories of the Sciences and are all composed of female personifications: Geometry with a compass and a square, Chemistry with a retort and a distiller, Physics with a lantern and a barometer, Mineralogy with a quartz crystal, Mechanics with a cogwheel, Medicine with a cup and a rod of Asclepius, Astronomy with a globe of the zodiac and a sextant, and Geography with a protractor and a globe. The vertical wall opposite the columns is decorated, in the upper part, with gilded-bottom mosaics dating from after 1925. Other sculptures inside the sommoportico are the Trophies of Arms (consisting of a set of shields, cuirasses, halberds, spears, flags, arrows and quivers; in one trophy is shown the crown of Italy, the eagle with the cross shield and the collar of the Annunciation: the emblems of the House of Savoy.

The inner crypt of the Unknown Soldier
The Crypt of the Unknown Soldier is a space located under the equestrian statue of Victor Emmanuel II, which is accessed from the Shrine of Flags. From the crypt, it is possible to see the side of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier that faces the interior spaces of the Vittoriano. It is therefore located at the Altar of the Fatherland, from which, on the other hand, one can see the side of the tomb that faces the outside of the building.

The epigraph on the inner side of the tombstone bears the inscription "Ignoto Militi" and the dates of the beginning and end of Italian participation in World War I, namely "Xxiv Maggio Mcmxv" (May 24, 1915) and "Iv Novembre Mcmxviii" (November 4, 1918). As mentioned above, the outer side of the tombstone instead only bears the years of Italian participation in the war.

The Unknown Soldier, on November 1, 1921, was awarded the Gold Medal of Military Valor, Italy's highest military decoration, with a motivation that was also inscribed on the inner side of the shrine, in the crypt of the same name:

""On the door of the simulacrum, on the other hand, is the following epitaph, personally penned by King Victor Emmanuel III:

""

The Soldier was also awarded foreign honors. As early as October 12, 1921, he was bestowed the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration awarded by the federal government of the United States of America. This was followed by the Cross of Liberty, the highest awardable by the government of Estonia, and the Croix de guerre, a French military honor.

The Crypt of the Unknown Soldier is the work of architect Armando Brasini. It is a room in the shape of a Greek cross with a domed vault accessed by two flights of stairs. From the crypt, a short tunnel departs that reaches the niche of the Sacellum of the Unknown Soldier. The niche is set in an arcosolium inspired by the style of early Christian buildings, especially the catacombs. The ceiling of the crypt recalls the style of Roman architecture, alternating rib and barrel vaults. The room, built of brick, is characterized by the presence of round arches and niches. There is also a small altar for religious services.

The walls of the crypt are decorated with a Byzantine-style mosaic of a religious nature by Giulio Bargellini. The crucifixion of Jesus is located above the tomb of the Unknown Soldier: on the walls, on the other hand, the patron saints of the Italian armed forces stand out: Saint Martin, patron of the infantry, Saint George for the cavalry, Saint Sebastian for the local police, and Saint Barbara for the navy, artillery and engineering. Finally, in the dome is Our Lady of Loreto, patron saint of the air force.

Parts of the crypt and tomb were made of stone materials from the mountains that were the scene of World War I clashes: the floor is made of Karst marble, while the small altar was made of a single block of stone from Mount Grappa.