Pantheon in Rome

The Pantheon

The Pantheon is a spectacular building located in Rome, Italy. The Pantheon is located at Regione IX Circus Flaminius. Originally its construction was commissioned by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus as a temple to all the gods of ancient Rome. The Pantheon was built in 27-25 BC by the magistrate Marcus Agrippa in order to commemorate the victory over Mark Antony and Cleopatra in the battle of Actium. Later this original temple was burned down in 80 AD. It was then completely reconstructed by the Emperor Hadrian in 125 AD.

The Pantheon is a circular structure with a portico of large granite Corinthian columns under a pediment. There is a rectangular vestibule which links the porch to the rotunda, which is underneath a coffered concrete dome, with a central opening (oculus) to the sky. Until today, this dome is still the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. The diameter of the interior circle and the height to the oculus are the same, 43.4 meters. The oculus was the only source of light to the building at the time when it was constructed.

The Pantheon was later turned into a church. Today the Pantheon contains tombs of several famous artists and various Italian kings. The tombs in the Pantheon include among others those of the painters Raphael Sanzio da Urbino, Carracci Annibale, the architect Baldassare Peruzzi, and Arcangelo Corelli. In Adittion to the  kings Vittorio Emanuele II and Umberto I as well as Umberto's Queen, Margherita.

The Pantheon is renowned for its exclusive architectural structures and the use of space. The special designs of the portico, the bronze doors ,the dome, tall walls, oculus, decorations and monumental tombs all contribute to the beauty of the building and turn it  into a great tourist's attraction. There is also a lovely fountain nearby topped by an ancient Egyptian obelisk which was erected by Pope Clement XI.

The Pantheon also borders with the Piazza della Rotonda, which is a rectangular square situated in the historic center of Rome. With its long history and the many reconstructions made to it, the Pantheon it is one of the most visited buildings in Rome. The square bordering the Pantheon is always crowded with tourists taking pictures or moving in and out of the building. The Pantheon is open from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m on Sunday and on holidays 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There is no admission fee needed in order to enter the building; it is open to the public free of charge.

There is no doubt that the Pantheon is a spectacular building that is worth a visit. Both the interior and the exterior of the building are amazing and breathtaking.The large dome, the oculus, the huge columns, and the inscriptions are exemplary. The Pantheon is said to be the Roman monument with the largest number of records and it is the most imitated of all ancient structures.