Filed under: architecture, attraction, Church, history, monument, top-feature
The Pantheon in Rome
The abundance of historic sites and attractions in Rome is nothing short of overwhelming. With so much to see and do, it can be difficult to decide where to begin. Chances are you won’t get around to seeing everything – whether it’s your first visit to the city or your 10th – but there are a few attractions that you just can’t afford to miss. One of these is the Pantheon and it’s here that I suggest you begin your tour of the Eternal City.
The Pantheon (map) is located in the Piazza della Rotonda in the historic center of Rome. Translating to “all the gods,” the Pantheon is the best preserved and most complete ancient building in the city and possibly the best preserved building of its time anywhere in the world.
Even more impressive is the fact that it’s been in continuous use throughout its history and has looked the same for thousands of years, surviving even as many other ancient Roman temples were abandoned and demolished.
History
The Pantheon was originally commissioned by Marcus Agrippa around 27 BC as a temple to all the gods of ancient Rome.Later, in 125 AD, it was completely reconstructed by the emperor Hadrian. In 609 AD the Pantheon was converted from an ancient temple to a Roman Catholic Church and an altar to the Virgin Mary was added opposite the entrance.
Today the building continues to function as a church and its official name is the Church of Mary and the Martyrs (Chiesa di Santa Maria ad Martyres), but it’s most commonly referred to as Pantheon.
Architecture, Design and Interior
The Pantheon is one of ancient Rome’s most impressive architectural achievements. The porch, or portico, in the front of the building is lined with Corinthian columns made of Egyptian granite, eight across and two groups of four behind. The Pantheon’s dome is the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. It starts out very thick where it meets the walls of the building and gets thinner and lighter as it extends upward. At the very top, it’s largely made out of very lightweight volcanic pumice stone.
The distance from the Pantheon floor to the top of the dome is exactly equal to its diameter (142 ft). The hole at the very center of the dome is called the oculus, or Great Eye. With a diameter of 27 ft, the oculus was and remains the only source of light for the entire structure and functions as the building’s cooling and ventilation system.
The entrance doors to the Pantheon are 22 ft high and made out of bronze. As you enter into the circular inner chamber you’ll find the altar to the Virgin Mary across from the entrance. The image of Mary standing over the altar dates back to the 7th-century. The tomb of the famous Renaissance artist Raphael is located in the wall of the left side of the dome alongside the tombs of two of Italy’s kings.
Nearby Attractions
The Pantheon’s central location places it within close proximity to many of the city’s top attractions, most of which can be easily reached on foot. There are also a few lesser known attractions located just steps from the Pantheon and Piazza della Rotonda.
The fountain located in Piazza della Rotonda was originally commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII in 1575. In 1711, Pope Clement XI requested a new design and layout which included a new basin made of stone and the obelisk set in the center of the fountain with four dolphins around the base. The original marble figures were removed in 1886 and replaced with copies. Today, the originals can be found on display in the Museum of Rome.
Right around the corner from Piazza della Rotonda in Piazza di Pietra (map) you’ll find the remains of the Temple of Hadrian. The temple was originally built to honor the Emperor Hadrian and his son. Eleven marble columns stretch along the front of the building which today houses the Rome stock exchange.
The Obelisk of Santa Maria sopra Minerva is located in front of the Santa Maria sopra Minerva church in Piazza della Minerva (map), just behind Piazza della Rotonda. Sopra translates to above or on top and it is believed that the church was built on top of the ruins of the Temple of Minerva.
Coffee and Gelato
Nicknamed “the living room” of Rome, the Piazza della Rotonda is a lively square with cafes, bars and restaurants. It’s easy to spend several hours sitting in the piazza with an espresso or gelato enjoying views of the Pantheon and the relaxed pace of Italian life. Grab an outdoor table at one of the cafes lining the plaza or take a seat on the fountain steps.
One of the city’s most popular cafés, Di Rienzo (map) at Piazza della Rotonda 8-9, faces the Pantheon from the opposite edge of the square. Di Rienzo is touristy but for good reason. It’s a favorite spot for dining al fresco and offers some of the city’s best views of the Pantheon.
Tazza d’Oro (map) at Via degli Orfani 84 is a great place to grab a coffee or try the gelato at Giolitti (map) at Via Uffici del Vicario 40, Rome’s oldest gelateria (ice cream shop), you’ll be glad you did.
Visitor Information
The Pantheon is open every day of the year except Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and May 1st. Normal visiting hours are Monday through Saturday from 8:30 am-7:30 pm, Sunday from 9:00 am-6:00 pm and from 9:00 am-1:00 pm on holidays. Admission is free. The Pantheon is located roughly 1km from the nearest Metro station Barberini. If possible, plan to visit early in the day to avoid the crowds and tour groups then spend an hour or two relaxing in the square, enjoying the atmosphere and taking in the views.
Photos: dungodung on Flickr; trentroche on Flickr; cking on Flickr
3 Comments
Great post.. the Pantheon is so beautiful I would break my rule about not sitting down to coffee in the square of an attraction JUST to sip a cappuccino and gaze at this piazza.
And it would be totally worth it!
When I was studying in Rome I used to come here at least once or twice a week, sometimes more. It’s absolutely one of my favorite attractions in the city!