RomeCenter
The Vittoriano, monument to King Victor Emanuele II
The Vittoriano is open to visitors for the first time in our memory. You can visit the Balbi Crypt, a museum on the Dark Ages in Rome, and go to the roof for an overarching view of the city.
Dominating the square, the Vittoriano is the monument to King Victor Emanuele II, the unifier of Italy. (The unification was finally reached on 1870, when Rome became Capital of Italy - Italy is a young country, despite its ancient heritage.) Gaudy to some, many Italians derisively call the Vittoriano the Wedding Cake or the Typewriter.
The flame in the center and the military guards mark Italy's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: the first monument of its genre in the world.
Here lies the mortal body of a soldier of the First World War, unknown, and not necessarily Italian: indeed this monument is dedicated to all soldiers died in all wars.
Cross the square toward the right side of the Wedding Cake and go up the street (via del Teatro Marcello). On your left after you pass the monument you'll see some ruins.
They're the remains of a Roman insula (apartment house).
Looking down, you'll see where ground level was 2000 years ago.
Insulae were as tall as 6-7 stories. Roadways were quite narrow (10-20 feet) and so the streets were dark and smelly.