The Pantheon is one of the best-preserved buildings of ancient Rome, originally commissioned in 27 AD during the reign of Augustus and later rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian between 118 and 125 AD. Its 43-metre tall dome instantly leaves an impression on visitors, with light streaming through the seven-metre wide oculus (the only source of natural light), illuminating the original ancient Roman marble floor. When Michelangelo visited, he commented that it seemed like the work of angels, not man.
The Pantheon was the largest dome in the world for 1300 years before Florence’s Duomo took the title, but it remains the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. The ‘Temple of All Gods’ has been in continuous use throughout history and in 609 it was converted into a Christian church by Pope Boniface IV. It became a memorial chapel in 1870 and houses the tombs of Kings Vittorio Emanuele II and Umberto I and the celebrated Renaissance artist, Raphael, among others.
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 8.30am – 7.30pm, Sunday 9am – 6pm (opening hours change during religious holidays and visitors are not permitted to enter during mass which takes place Saturday at 5pm)
Price: Free
*Opening hours may be subject to change.
