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The Pantheon, Rome

Piazza della Rotonda, Roma, Lazio

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. At the time of this review, the audio-tour is priced at €8.50 per person. Those who book an audio-tour will not need to book separately on the weekend. Visitors are also requested to dress appropriately: no shorts, vest or sleeveless top

Meta review

The monument is one of the city's most famous sights and its shape would be familiar to many people. It is also one of the best ranked attractions in Rome on online portals with visitors highlighting the impressive and photogenic exterior but also the beautifully decorated interior with old paintings and that impressive dome. They also comment that the lines can be long but move fast and that upgrading to the audio-guide is a worthy investment.

Environmental & Social

The running environmental footprint is low and the attraction helps maintain 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 to visitors with reduced mobility

About this Rating

TYPE

Onsite

RESEARCHED IN

April 2023

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit
Last admission 30mins before closing time. Closed on 01 Jan, 15 Aug, 25 Dec.

av. transport time:0h 20m

est. visit time:0h 45m

Regulated hours

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

Pricing
Free

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