Vittoriano Terrace and Capitoline Museum tour
Visit the Capitoline Museums, a group of art and archeological museums in Piazza del Campidoglio, on top of the Capitoline Hill in Rome, Italy. See the collections of ancient Roman statues, inscriptions, and other artifacts; medieval and Renaissance art; and jewels, coins, and other items.
Then, head to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Altar of Heaven, a titular basilica in Rome located on the highest summit of the Campidoglio. Still the designated Church of the city council of Rome it uses the ancient title of Senatus Populusque Romanus, and the present Cardinal Priest of the Titulus Sancta Mariae de Aracoeli is Salvatore De Giorgi.
From there, continue on to the Piazza Venezia, called the central hub of Rome because several thoroughfares, including the Via dei Fori Imperiali and the Via del Corso intersect there. It takes its name from the Palazzo Venezia, built by the Venetian Cardinal.
One side of the Piazza, see Italy's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Altare della Patria. This is part of the imposing Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, first king of Italy. The piazza, or square, lies at the foot of the Capitoline Hill and next to Trajan's Forum. The main artery, the Viale di Fori Imperiali, begins there and leads past the Roman Forum to the Colosseum.
Between the Forum and the Campus Martius, admire one of the Seven Hills of Rome, Capitoline and see the Piazza del Campidoglio and the surrounding palazzi created by Renaissance artist and architect Michelangelo Buonarroti from 1536–1546.