This is the monument to Vittorio Emanuelle II, the dude who
"reunified" Italy in 1870 (he recaptured Rome after other
people had pretty much done the rest of Italy). The building
is largely regarded by Italians as an example of excess and
guadiness. But they all feel compelled to talk about it to
strangers. It is often called the "typewriter building"
on account of its looking something like that.
