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Roma dal Cielo – Terrazza delle Quadrighe

Love it or hate it (most locals are in the latter camp), the glacial white marble monument to Vittorio Emanuele II in Piazza Venezia is the most central place in Rome for city views. Thanks to a special new glass elevator, visitors can now reach the uppermost terrace of the behemoth built from 1885 to 1911 to honor the first king of unified Italy. The panoramic Terrace of the Quadrigas—between the two bronze chariots that crown the monument—is uncrowded, open to the sky, and, given its sturdy base, not at all vertiginous. There are views in every direction, but most breathtaking are those to the south, over the green archaeological zones of the Roman and imperial forums, the Colosseum, and the Palatine. Note that you must climb dozens of marble steps to get to the level where the elevator takes you to the top.

Admission: $10 adults; $5 for children ages 10-18 and adults over 65; free for children under 10.

Open daily 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.