Its present form was gradually acquired by the square after the year 1885, when the monumental Altar of the Fatherland (Altare dell Patria), which was then under construction and was not finished until 1911, became its dominant feature. It was built in honor of the first king of united Italy, Victor Emmanuel II, and is also known as Vittoriano. In order for it to be erected, a complex of buildings which had existed in this place until then was torn down, including the Church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli. The Palazzetto which was part of Palazzo Venezia was also transferred, moving it deeper in – to the other side of the Church of San Marco.

Looking on from the Altar of the Fatherland, on the left we see the Palazzo Venezia, created in the XV century, which was initially the residence of popes and later the ambassador of Venice and finally the government of Benito Mussolini. From the balcony found above the gate Duce gave his flowery speeches. At that time the square became an important political and propaganda center, since it is here that crowds gathered, generally celebrating and manifesting their support for the dictator, who himself saw the heart of Rome in it, meaning in truth the heart of all Italy. Taking this into account, the name of the square was changed to Foro Italico. It also underwent serious reconstruction due to setting out new communication tracts – the via dell’Impero (present-day via dei Fori Imperiali) leading to the Colosseum and the via del Teatro Marcello, going in the direction of the Tiber.

On the other side, opposite Palazzo Venezia, there is a building which is very reminiscent of it, the Palazzo delle Assicurazioni Generali di Venezia (the residence of the Venetian Insurance Company), created in 1907. It took the place of previously torn down palaces – Bolognetti-Torlonia and Nepoti. At the base of the balcony it is adorned by a beautiful relief depicting a lion – the symbol of Venice.

Directly at the outlet of the via del Corso there is the inconspicuous Palazzo Bonaparte, which took its name from the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. The mother of the great leader, lived here after his defeat until her death, looking on with interest upon the social life of the nearby palace, from the reconstructed balcony.