Historical landmark, Memorial, Monument, Tourist attraction
Pantheon
Built by Hadrian between AD 119 and 128, Rome's best-preserved ancient building is still a working church, crowned by a dome whose open oculus lets in all of its light.
The story
Originally a temple, it replaced an earlier structure by Marcus Agrippa, and its name comes from the Greek for 'temple of all gods'. The design follows the rules of Vitruvius: the dome's diameter equals the building's height, so a perfect sphere would fit inside. At its centre, the 9-metre oculus admits light and, when it rains, water, carried away by a gently sloping floor with hidden drains. Still officially a church, it holds the tombs of eminent Italians, among them Raphael and Vittorio Emanuele II, united Italy's first king. Cafes and restaurants ring the piazza, with Sant'Eustachio Caffè, Giolitti and Armando al Pantheon just around the corner.
Good to know
TAGGG AI- ✦Queues form daily, so buy tickets online in advance to choose your time and get in quickly.
- ✦Walk all the way around the edges of the interior to see the historic artifacts.
