The Pantheon in Rome

Located in the heart of the historic centre of Rome, the Pantheon is without doubt one of the most famous monuments in the “Eternal City”. Why? This architectural masterpiece is the best preserved ancient building in the capital.

Follow the guide!

Brief history of the Pantheon in Rome

The origins of the Pantheon

Agrippa’s Pantheon

The history of the Pantheon began in 27 BC, when a first version of the building was built on the orders of the Consul Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, a close adviser to the Emperor Augustus.

But Agrippa’s Pantheon did not survive the test of time. It was damaged by fires in 80 AD and later in 110 AD.

Hadrian’s Pantheon

Between 118 and 125 AD, the Emperor Hadrian had the Pantheon completely rebuilt according to a completely new plan. It is this second version of the temple that has survived the ages and is still standing today.

Hadrian’s Pantheon is an architectural gem and a testament to the incredible skill of Roman builders. Its dome – still the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world – continues to amaze scholars.

The Emperor Hadrian nevertheless recognised Agrippa’s heritage and had his name inscribed on the entrance portico of the temple: M.AGRIPPA.L.F.COS.TERTIVM.FECIT (“Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, consul for the third time, had it built”).

Although the identity of the architect who oversaw the construction of the Pantheon remains unknown, rumour has it that Apollodorus of Damascus – who is said to have designed the Roman Forum as well as Trajan’s Market – may have been behind the monument’s innovative design.

A temple to all the gods

In ancient Greek, the word Πάνθειον (pantheion) arose from the combination of the words πᾶν (pan, ‘all’) and θεῖος (theíos, ‘divine’). The pantheon is therefore literally the temple of all the gods.

The Pantheon in Rome was dedicated to all the Roman pagan deities, and especially to Mars (Ares) and Venus (Aphrodite), the mythical ancestors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty (the Gens Iulia) to which Julius Caesar belonged.

From Roman temple to Catholic church

At the end of the 4^th century A.D., pagan cults were banned in Rome: sacrifices were forbidden, as was going to pagan temples.

For nearly two centuries, the Pantheon was abandoned and plundered, particularly during the sack of Rome by the Visigoths in the 5^th century.

In 608, the ancient temple, which until then had remained imperial property, was offered by the Byzantine emperor Phocas to Pope Boniface IV who had the Pantheon consecrated as a Christian church. The Roman temple became the Basilica of St. Mary of the Martyrs (Sancta Maria ad Martyres).

A place of burial

From the Renaissance onwards, the Pantheon became a burial place where emblematic figures from Roman history were buried.

The Pantheon is home to:

• the tombs of iconic artists: Raphael, Baldassarre Peruzzi, Perin del Vaga, Giovanni da Udine, Taddeo Zuccaro, Annibale Carracci, Arcangelo Corelli
• the remains (the heart) of a man of the cloth, Cardinal Ercole Consalvi
• the remains of Italian sovereigns: Victor Emmanuel II, his son Humbert I and his wife Margaret of Savoy^.

Visiting the Pantheon in Rome

Architecture

Rome’s Pantheon is an architectural gem that has survived the test of time and as stunning as ever, much to our delight. The Pantheon is the best preserved ancient building in the Italian capital and comprises:

• a pronaos: a vestibule that constitutes the entrance to the temple. It is composed of a portico with 16 Corinthian columns and topped by a triangular pediment. That’s is where you’ll find the inscription in homage to Agrippa.
• an intermediate building that materialises the transition between the pronaos and the rotunda. It is rectangular in shape.
• a rotunda: cylindrical in shape, it houses the cella (the worship room) surmounted by a huge dome 43.30 metres (141 ft) in diameter and pierced by an oculus.

The rotunda

The rotunda is of course the most spectacular architectural feature of Rome’s Pantheon.

The dome weighs some 4,535 tonnes! Its diameter is equal to the height of the rotunda, hence the impression of harmony that emanates from the building.

The dome is pierced at the top by a circular opening 8.7 metres (26.2 ft) in diameter: the oculus. It is the only source of direct light inside the Pantheon, which explains the chiaroscuro that reigns in the building.

In rainy weather, the oculus allows rainfall through the ceiling. The floor of the Pantheon – made of porphyry and granite slabs in geometric patterns – is therefore slightly sloped to allow water runoff. The centre of the rotunda is 30 centimetres higher than the edges of the building.

The niches around the rotunda originally housed statues of ancient deities. They’re now home to the tombs of illustrious figures such as the painter Raphael or King Victor-Emmanuel II.

Access

Getting to the Pantheon

The Pantheon is located on the Campus Martius, northwest of the historic centre, a few steps from the Trevi Fountain, the Piazza Navona and the Campo de’ Fiori.

The nearest metro station is Venezia on line D, a 10-minute walk away.

Bus lines 40, 60, 70, 71 and 492 also stop nearby.

Opening hours of the Pantheon

The Panthéon is open from Monday to Saturday from 8.30am to 7.30pm (last entry at 7.15pm) and on Sunday from 9am to 6pm (last entry at 5.45pm).

Admission

Access to the Pantheon is free. If you don’t want to miss anything, Captain Ulysses recommends that you opt for the audio-guide, available on site or bookable online.
👉 More info: audio-guide for the Pantheon

If you prefer to visit the Roman Pantheon with an actual tour guide, Captain Ulysses recommends this guided tour of the famous monument.

This free guided tour of Rome also stops at the Pantheon. It is up to you how much you wish to tip the guide.

Crédits
Hsuanya Tsai | Michael Vadon | AshMarshall | djedj | Victor R. Ruiz