After the morning visit to the market we are heading in the general direction of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Spanish Steps.   First thing we see on the way there is Altar of the Nation.  Officially known as the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II, the enormous white marble monument, 80 m hight by 120 m wide, that dominates Piazza Venezia was built as a tribute to the first king of a united Italy.

As King of Sardinia and victor over the Austrian army in Lombardy, Victor Emmanuel had become a symbol of the Risorgimento, the movement for a united Italy. After his army joined forces with Garibaldi and defeated the papal army, the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed in 1861 with Victor Emmanuel as king.