Known as the “Wedding Cake” or “Typewriter” today, this white marble monument was built in honor of
Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of Italy when the country was reunified in the 19th century. In the early 19th century, Italy was separated into different political identities (Florence, Rome/Papal States, Naples) and reunified into one kingdom as a parliamentary monarchy with a king at its head. This monument was built as a symbol of this reunification, or Risorgimento, of Italy, and on the site of the old citadel on Capitoline Hill, taking many years to complete. With the rise of Fascism in the 20th century, it became on area for parades and speeches from Mussolini, who, with the help of the king and the pope, established himself as the sole power of Italy. After World War II, the monument returned to its original function, full of symbolism such as palm trees for victory and laurel for peace. Today it holds inside a museum of the time of Fascism and Reunification and the tomb of the unknown soldier from World War I, representing all the unknown fallen soldiers of Italy, and outside a beautiful view of Rome, particularly the Forum.