Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, Rome

Surrounded by palazzi with large porticoes in the 19th-century style, the piazza was built by Gaetano Koch shortly after the unification of Italy. Umbertine in style, it is the largest piazza in Rome (316 x 174 metres). In the centre of the piazza is a garden with the remains of a fountain built by Alexander Severus (so called Trophy of Marius), and the Porta Alchemica (''Alchemist's Portal or also called Magic Gate or Porta Magica''), the entrance to Villa Palombara, former residence of the alchemist Marquis Palombara. ==Cultural references==

In Vittorio De Sica's film Bicycle Thieves, in Piazza Vittorio the protagonist Antonio Ricci and his young son Bruno seek desperately to recover his stolen bicycle, but realise the futility of their task as the vast square is filled with countless bicycles and bicycle parts that resemble his own. The novel Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio takes place in the area. ==Gallery==

Image:Piazza Vittorio Trofei di Mario 9511-06.JPG| Image:Piazza Vittorio Porta magica 9511-02.JPG| Image:Giardini di piazza Vittorio 9511-01.JPG| Image:CAPODANNOCINESE18022024 621A.jpg| Image:Jardin Nicola Calipari - Rome (IT62) - 2021-08-29 - 3.jpg| Image:Nicola Calipari Gardens in 2021.01.jpg| Image:Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II - Via Carlo Alberto - panoramio.jpg| Image:VITTORIOFONTA1290521.jpg| ==See also==