The Pantheon, Rome
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Pantheon - by Gabriella Clare Marino on Unsplash
Description
The Pantheon was built in the 2nd century AD (under Emperor Hadrian) as Roman temple. The distinctive facade with a portico of large granite Corinthian columns belies a rotunda, a very unusual architecture at the time but regularly copied thereafter. The building has, to this day, the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. The name Pantheon means "all" + "of or sacred to a god" in Ancient Greek. It is extremely well-preserved primarily because it has remained in use throughout its history, being converted to a church dedicated to St Mary and the Martyrs in the 7th century. Since the Renaissance, the site has been used for the burial of famous figures such as Raphael and three kings and queens of Italy (Vittorio Emanuele II, Umberto I and his wife Queen Margherita) Trivia: the height to the oculus and the diameter of the interior circle are both 43.3 so that a sphere touching the ground would perfectly fit under the dome
Access & Transport
Address: Piazza della Rotonda, Rome The closet bus stops are Argentina on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and Corso/Minghetti on Via del Corso. The tram stop Arenula/Cairoli (8) is 500m away to the south.
Instructions & Recommendations
It is necessary to book online to visit on Saturday, Sunday or public holidays. Since July 2023 a paid ticket is be required to visit the monument. According to our research the official website link is: https://portale.museiitaliani.it/b2c/buyTicketless/33f77159-0acd-40c4-8524-701f33aae108. Visitors are also requested to dress appropriately: no shorts, vest or sleeveless top
Environmental & Social
The running environmental footprint is low. Part of the city's artistic and architectural heritage
Conclusion
Despite the competition among top-tier monuments in Rome, the Pantheon is without question one of the most impressive. It has these clean and classical lines that one identifies with Roman temples, an architectural masterpiece of a dome, and a rich history and artistic content.
Key positive
An architectural masterpiece
Centrally located in the centre of the Old City
Free entrance
Key negative
Can be crowded, in particular on weekends and public holidays.
Suitability
No religious denomination restrictions but visitors should dress conservatively since it is a church. Accessible for visitors with reduced mobility
About this Rating
TYPE
Onsite
RESEARCHED IN
August 2024
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:0h 20m
est. visit time:0h 45m
Monday09:00 - 19:00
Tuesday09:00 - 19:00
Wednesday09:00 - 19:00
Thursday09:00 - 19:00
Friday09:00 - 19:00
Saturday09:00 - 19:00
Sunday09:00 - 19:00