Restoration of Altare della Patria in Rome Begins with Public Access

A restoration campaign for the Altare della Patria, the heart of the Vittoriano monument in Rome, started on March 28 with scaffolding setup. The project aims to address severe biological degradation caused by humidity and sunlight, which has darkened the marble surface with algae, fungi, and lichens. The altar, designed by architect Giuseppe Sacconi after King Vittorio Emanuele II's death on January 9, 1878, features a 70-meter-long, 5-meter-high frieze by sculptor Angelo Zanelli, completed in 1925. The restoration is directed by Edith Gabrielli, director of VIVE, and executed by Susanna Sarmati, with completion expected by late October 2023, in time for November 4 celebrations. Works proceed in three phases: lateral sections until early July, then the central right portion including the Dea Roma statue, and finally the central left, ensuring access to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Public guided tours on scaffolding are scheduled for April 23, June 11, August 27, and September 27. Concurrently, VIVE is studying and restoring plaster models of the altar by Zanelli and other competition participants, currently stored at the former Mattatoio di Roma. These will be exhibited in a show at the Sala Zanardelli in the Vittoriano opening October 25, dedicated to Zanelli and the altar's decoration.