In the center of the gardens, which are next to the Arena, there is an equestrian statue which is dedicated to Victorio Emanuele II of Savoy (1820-1878),the first king of Italy and nicknamed the "gentleman". The monument was erected for the reasons written on the base: "on the fifth anniversary of his death, tears are shed for him by the whole of the civilized world: January 9, 1883." It is to thank the sovereign who "with wonderful virtue made a weak and divided Italy into an independent and free whole".
