Piazza Venezia

Piazza Venezia is without any doubt one of the main hub of city traffic and an obligatory stop point for tourist as well. Created in 1911 after several demolitions involving the North side of the Capitoline Hill, today it is literally dominated by the extreme and imposing monument to Victor Emanuel II, the Vittoriano. The square derives its name by Palazzo Venezia, the Renaissance palace built between 1455 and 1470 by cardinal Pietro Barbo and fated to become the official residents of the Popes. During the Fascism Palazzo Venezia became the seat of the Italian government and Mussolini used to speak to the people from the central balcony. Next to it, you will find the Palazzetto Venezia and the 9th century Church of St. Mark; on the other side of the square, a twin modern palace, seat of the Assicurazioni Generali, built to give symmetry to the square.