The Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II is sited in the centre of gardens next to the Arena. It is an equestrian statue dedicated to Victorio Emanuele II of Savoy, the first King of Italy and nicknamed the ‘gentleman’. The reason given for its erection is written on the base ‘on the 5th anniversary of his death, tears are shed for him by the whole of the civilised world’ 9th January 1883.’ It is dedicated to the monarch who rejoined a divided Italy.