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Debate fails to rid Rome of Il Vittoriano
Rome Daily American, February 2, 1986

Rome – A mock trial, headed by architectural historian and author Bruno Zevi, ruled in favour of saving the 90-year-old Victor Emmanuel monument - also known as the wedding cake, the typewriter, elegant pissoir, il Vittoriano – from destruction.

Rome's cultural community came together this week to debate the fate of the huge white structure conceived by Count Giuseppe Sacconi to commemorate the unity of Italy.

The three-hour verbal combat heard Dr. Klaus Koenig, professor of contemporary architecture at the University of Florence remark, "tie a rope around the structure, and have it dragged by senators and deputies of the past 40 years out of Piazza Venezia."

"It's criminal for us to be forced to see this white monstrosity. Romans should at least have the courage to get rid of the horrendous life-like horse," Koenig added.

"This piece of fake marble is a joke," stressed Zevi. "It's offensive and arrogant to the eye, at every hour of every day."

Another Italian architectural historian, Professor Claudia Conforti, defended the edifice saying, "It was built out of a traumatic period. Born as a symbol of the unification of Italy. It was built not by the fathers of our nation, but by its sons."

Speaking for the defence, Conforti suggested relocating the monument from the heart of the city, to the Gianicolo. "Use it as a meeting point, like the Spanish steps, or as a museum for exhibitions."

Roman architect and historian, Professor Paolo Portoghesi justified keeping il Vittoriano, because it is a symbol of the Risorgimento. "You can't judge it only by its façade - saying we don't need it is saying we don't know how to make use of it."

Zevi continued his attack on the historic monument adding, "it's awful that a country should be forced to put up with this teratism for an eternity – it's a visual and mental horror."

The monument has been at the centre of controversy for years. Romans are eager to dispose of the traffic barrier, yet millions of tourists who make their way through Rome's historic centre, are wowed by it.

Sacconi was chosen to design the monument after winning a national competition, but other architects altered his original design following his death.

The Victor Emmanuel monument did not crumble under the accusations and was given a new lease on life by the 14-member jury. It decided the monument should remain where it is, but should be turned into a cultural centre and modified to adapt to Rome's traffic problems.