Famous Wonders

Pantheon Facade in Rome, Italy
Photo by: truello, Creative Commons

A Big Crowd Inside the Dome
Photo by: Wili_hybrid, Creative Commons

View of Pantheon at Night
Photo by: yeowatzup, Creative Commons

View of The Outside of Pantheon’s Dome From II Vittoraino
Photo by: dave hamster, Creative Commons

The Pantheon is a building in Rome which was built as a temple of all the gods of ancient Rome. Pantheon in Latin means “temple of all gods”. The Pantheon is the best preserved building in comparison to all roman buildings and it has been uninterrupted since the beginning of its construction. Pantheon holds the record for the largest non-reinforced dome in the history of architecture. Originally, Pantheon was built as a roman temple, but later it was converted to a Catholic Church. The most amazing thing to know is that the height to the oculus and the diameter of the interior circle are the same (43.3 meters).

The original Pantheon was built in 27 B.C., but due to the huge fire, most of the buildings got destroyed along with Pantheon. The Pantheon building which we see today was actually reconstructed in 125 A.D, during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian. Pantheon was totally reconstructed with the text of original inscription on the bricks. Before the current Pantheon, there were two other buildings occupying same site. The very first building was traditional rectilinear, t – shaped structure which was built in 27 B.C by the emperor Marcus Agrippa who is a son-in-law of Emperor Augustus. The temple was dedicated to the gods, Mars and Venus. The most important problem faced by Romans during its construction was the massive weight of the large dome. The huge columns of Pantheon were brought from Egypt which weighed 60 tons. The Pantheon contains the tombs of Raphael and of several kings of Italy.

The Pantheon building is ring-shaped with three ranks of huge granite pillars under a space into the rotunda under a coffered, solid dome, with a central opening (oculus), the Great Eye, open to the sky. Orthogonal building loops the portico with the rotunda. Though often still drawn as a free standing building, there was a building at its rear into which it is adjoined; of this structure there are only archaeological remains.

The entrance fee to enter the Pantheon is a little expensive. The atmosphere environment of Rome is suitable to the travelers in any time of the year. The Pantheon is

Open:
Wintertime: 10 a.m.-5.30 p.m.
Summertime: 9.30 a.m.-6.30 p.m.

Fees:
26 Euro – adults
17 Euro – students
7 Euro – Children

Nearest station: Linea A: Spagna

“The old cathedrals are good, but the great blue dome that hangs over everything is better”