150 Years Since Rome Was Named Capital of Italy

Dea Roma — the goddess of Rome — a sculpture by Angelo Zanelli at the centre of the Altare della Patria, dedicated to the Italian nation and housed in the Vittoriano complex. Running along the upper right edge, the inscription "ROMA CAPITALE" and the years "1871" and "2021". To the left, at upper left, the Italian Republic monogram "RI"; at lower left, the Rome Mint mark "R". Along the lower edge, the initials of coin designer Uliana Pernazza.

Rome is no ordinary capital. The Eternal City was for centuries the centre of a world empire, the seat of the papacy and the heart of Western culture — yet as the political capital of a unified Italy, it arrived late. After the country's unification under the House of Savoy, one crucial piece was still missing: Pope Pius IX refused to cede Rome, which he regarded as part of the Papal States. Only on 20 September 1870 did Piedmontese troops break through the Porta Pia into the city, completing the Risorgimento territorially. On 2 July 1871, Rome was officially declared the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, replacing Florence in that role.

The Vittoriano — the monumental national building at the foot of the Capitoline Hill, built between 1885 and 1935 — embodies this national self-positioning. It is dedicated to Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of unified Italy, and also houses the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The statue of Dea Roma enthroned inside the Altare della Patria deliberately harks back to the ancient city goddess, drawing a direct line from the Urbs Roma to the modern capital. In 2021, Italy honoured the 150th anniversary of Rome's declaration as capital with a 2-euro commemorative coin that takes up exactly this motif.