Edith Gabrielli on the Future of Rome's Vittoriano and Palazzo Venezia

Edith Gabrielli, director of the VIVE institute (Vittoriano and Palazzo Venezia) since December 2020, outlines her vision for the complex. The institute has surpassed three million visitors in 2023, with ticket revenues of about three million euros. Gabrielli highlights three key achievements: research (including institutional agreements with universities), community engagement (locals reclaiming the spaces), and visitor numbers. Future plans include an international conference on Armando Brasini, restoration of Angelo Zanelli's Altare della Patria decoration starting March 2023, and a new edition of the 'Al centro di Roma' lecture series. The Ala Fori Imperiali (formerly Ala Brasini) will be restored with a €6 million budget and is set to become an international exhibition center by the end of 2024. Palazzo Venezia's new layout by architect Michele De Lucchi will focus on 'Fatto-in-Italia' (Made in Italy), showcasing decorative and applied arts. The Gallerie Sacconi will host a narrative on Italian identity, building on the 'Lessico italiano' exhibition inaugurated by President Sergio Mattarella in 2019. Gabrielli supports the Franceschini reform but calls for further system-wide alignment. She selected two emblematic objects: Cardinal Pietro Barbo's travel chest (1440-1464) for Palazzo Venezia, and Angelo Zanelli's Altare della Patria decoration for the Vittoriano.