Experience divine wonder in the temple of all gods.
The pantheon is not only the best-preserved ancient Roman monument in the world, but it’s also the most copied. It is a must-see attraction during your visit to Rome.
Highlights
- Visit the tomb of the great renaissance artist Raphael.
- Gaze up at the oculus, the opening to the heavens.
- Marvel at the architectural wonder that is the coffered concrete dome – the biggest ever built!
Tickets & Prices
With a ticket to the Roman Pantheon, you’ll explore the history and the lesser-known facts about this incredible monument with an official guided tour, lasting 45 minutes and accompanied by a live guide.
The Pantheon is free and open to everyone, but to get the most out of your experience, it’s recommended to join a tour.
- Guided Tour – Tour the monument with a guide.
- Audio Guide – Explore at your own pace with an audio guide featuring storytelling and video (includes weekend access).
- Rome Tourist Card (bestseller) – See the best of Rome with this popular combi-ticket. Includes access to The Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica (official guided tour), and more…
Pantheon Guided Tour
Get the most out of your visit to the Pantheon with a guided tour. Enrich your experience by learning about the story behind the monument.
Important Ticket Information:
- Pick your time slot online, but remember to arrive earlier as there may be a waiting period due to safety checks.
- Please bring your photo ID; the printed or mobile ticket; and appropriate attire (no shorts, vests, or sleeveless tops).
- The meeting point is at the welcome desk inside the Pantheon.
- Reduced tickets are available for children from ages 8 to 14.
- Children aged 7 and under go free.
Guided Tour of the Pantheon – Extra Times
Due to growing demand, extra visit hours have been added on weekends. This ticket provides the same experience as the ticket listed above, just with different time slots. The booking process is also the same.
This ticket is perfect for anyone who wants to visit the Pantheon on a Saturday or Sunday.
Rome Tourist Card
Elevate your experience visiting the Pantheon with this nifty card which offers you a downloadable guide for your smartphone.
With the same pass, you can also enjoy visiting other famous Roman attractions, such as skip-the-line tickets to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel; a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica; and priority entrance to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.
Simply select your visit dates online and receive the tickets by email.
What’s Included:
- An audio guide for a self-guided in-depth tour of the Pantheon.
- High-quality visuals, and commentaries by local experts.
- Offline, interactive digital maps and navigation.
What to see and do
The Pantheon is Rome’s best-preserved monument. Explore it in detail from its Greek-inspired exterior to the innovative dome within.
The Exterior
The Pantheon sits on the Piazza della Rotonda, a square in the historic heart of Rome. Seen from the front, we get a magnificent view of the facade and portico, reminiscent of ancient Greek temples.
The rotunda behind it is cleverly disguised. Excavations carried out in the square have revealed that the ancient Roman street level was around two meters below the present level, which is clear once you circle the monument.
The main structure of the Pantheon, called the rotunda (Italian for “round”), was actually the first element of the building to be built, using the Roman concrete technique. The composition of the concrete changes depending on how high the wall is, so the higher up the lighter it would be. From the outside, the rotunda looks like a gigantic, unadorned sphere.
The Portico
The portico or pronaos is typical of the entrance to a Greek temple. The porch has 16 granite columns, each almost 12 meters high, which are arranged to form a central passage and two lateral aisles.
The pinkish columns came all the way from Aswan, in Egypt! The floor, with its simple geometric pattern, is made of different-colored marble and leads to massive solid bronze doors: the entrance.
The Interior
Once inside you’ll be left breathless by the sheer grandeur and scale of the interior. The huge, empty space is intended to make you feel insignificant as if you were in front of the gods themselves.
The marble floor (the ancient Roman original) continues on the inside and the walls are decorated with Renaissance frescoes, paintings, and niches with statues.
One of the main things to see is the final resting place of Raphael, the famed Renaissance painter, but there are also the tombs of the first two kings of unified Italy: Vittorio Emanuele II and Umberto I.
The Dome
The most impressive element of the Pantheon has got to be the dome, the largest one ever built in unreinforced concrete. Its surface features 140 square sunken panels, known as coffers, which used to be decorated with bronze. It has a diameter of 43.44 meters and is topped by a 9-meter diameter opening, the oculus.
The oculus is the only source of external light and is uncovered so that when it rains, the rain falls directly onto the slightly convex floor, which leads to a drainage system. Throughout the day, the light streaming through creates a reverse sundial effect: marking the time with light instead of shadows.
Did you know that: (5 Interesting facts!)
- The dome is bigger than that of St. Peter’s Basilica.
- Michelangelo once said that he felt the Pantheon was the work of angels, not men. High praise from one of the most famous artists who ever lived!
- The name comes from two Greek words: pan, “everything” and theon, “divine”.
- The inscription “M.AGRIPPA.L.F.COS.TERTIVM.FECIT” on the facade is in Latin, and means: “Marcus Agrippa, the son of Lucius, three times consul, built this.”
- According to legend, it was built on the site where Romulus, the founder of Rome, ascended into the sky to join the gods.
History
- The original structure, built between 25 and 27 B.C.E. by the consul Agrippa, was a small temple dedicated to the Roman gods.
- The emperor Domitian rebuilt it in 80 C.E. after a fire, but only 30 years later it was hit by lightning and caught fire again!
- It was then rebuilt in its current form by Emperor Hadrian, known for his eclectic tastes.
- Over the years it was repaired by various emperors, which helped to preserve it.
- In 609 C.E. Pope Boniface IV converted it into a Christian church and consecrated it to St. Mary and the Martyrs. Its status as a church saved it from abandonment and destruction over the following centuries.
- Several important artists were buried there during the Renaissance, among them Raphael and Annibale Carracci.
- In the 17th century, Pope Urban VIII ordered that the bronze ceiling of the portico be melted down, to be used to make bombards for the fortification of Castel Sant’Angelo.
- After the reunification of Italy, two ‘modern’ kings chose to be buried there.
- Today, apart from being a tourist attraction, the Pantheon is still in use as a Catholic church. Masses are celebrated there, as well as holy days, and even the occasional wedding.
FAQs
The Pantheon is famous for being the most preserved monument of ancient Rome. It was constructed as a temple dedicated to the Gods and became the burial ground for several important people including famous artists and kings.
Yes, access to the Pantheon is free. Though you can purchase tickets for guided and audio tours, as well as weekend access.
Inside the Pantheon, you will find many tombs, chapels Renaissance art – frescoes, paintings, and sculptures.
There is a hole in the Pantheon (the oculus) to reduce the weight and stress on the dome ceiling and its most vulnerable point. The oculus also provides light. It was believed that the light was a connection between the temple and the Gods.
Map & Directions (Location)
The Pantheon is located on Piazza della Rotonda, in the heart of historic Rome, between Piazza Navona and Via del Corso.
Tram: Line 8
Metro: Line A (the nearest stops are ‘Barberini’ or ‘Spagna’)
Address: Pantheon, Piazza della Rotonda , 00186 Roma, Italy · view larger map