Rome Sights

Pantheon

#2 of 963 things to do in Rome

#12 of 49053 things to do in Europe

9 reviews | Write a review

Good for: architecture, free sight, a quick visit, people watching in the piazza

  • Address
    • Piazza della Rotonda
  • Transport
    • Largo di Torre Argentina
  • Phone
    • 06 683 00 230
  • Price
    • admission free, audioguide €4
  • Hours
    • 8.30am-7.30pm Mon-Sat, 9am-6pm Sun

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Lonely Planet review for Pantheon

Competition is fierce, but the Pantheon is surely ancient Rome’s most astonishing building. This Roman temple has been standing for almost 2000 years, and it’s a unique, unparalleled experience to enter its great doors and have your vision directed upwards, just as it would have been for the ancient Romans. Its current form dates to around AD 120, when the emperor Hadrian built the Pantheon over Marcus Agrippa’s original temple (27 BC). For centuries, historians read the name Agrippa in the inscription on the pediment and thought that Hadrian’s version was the 1st-century-BC original. When excavations in the 19th century revealed traces of the earlier temple, they realised their mistake.

 

Traveller reviews for Pantheon (9)

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    A must-see in Rome

    drencrome recommends this,

    A must-see in Rome, but the crowds inside can be quite bothersome. According to a waiter I talked to nearby, you can find it open during the night three or four days a year.

    Good for: architecture

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    my favourite building in Rome

    platecollector recommends this,

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    Sublime

    evilares recommends this,

    We were fortunate to find it open at midnight, so we got to see it during the day and at night. The perfect and simple geometry blows you away everytime...

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    wow

    colleensarah21 recommends this,

    I spent the whole time in the Pantheon just looking up. The ceiling is so fantastic that when St. Peter's was being built, the designer refused to make its dome bigger out of respect to the architects of this fantastic building. There are lots of important people buried there, which is great, but it's worth the trip just to look up.

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    A true gem of architectural history

    bmad recommends this,

    One of the last buildings of Rome that I saw, not to mention the two semesters of architectural and design history, i thought I would be desensitized, but it was shocking how truly beautiful the pantheon really is. A must see forsure; it is stunningly perfect, free, and you dont have to take much time out of your schedule for a visit.

    Spent the evening in the vicinity, which is a great part of the city. Dinner on the 'patio' at the restaurant overlooking the pantheon and the fountain was a perfect although expensive way to end the evening.Great view, and really fun to people watch.Stop by a nearby gelateria for dessert!

    Good for: free sight, a quick visit, people watching in the piazza

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    Majestic!

    nats8 recommends this,

    After days in Roma, you are amazed how another huge ancient artful monument can still impress you :) but then again this is where the story of all PANTHEONS around the world began..

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    architectural template for a thousand years

    melyuan recommends this,

    Imagine building a building that people spent a thousand years trying to copy ... See where it all began.

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    Definitely a Must See!

    thattravelingcouple recommends this,

    The Pantheon is a spectacular piece of history and a remarkable architectural structure. The monstrous pillars guard the doorway and loom over you like they-know-you-know, they've been around the block a few times!

    Then you step inside and its like you've been transported into an ancient world - it's hard to believe its really been standing there for thousands of years. The wall carvings, statues and plaques are so intricate and well-preserved it really is beautiful!

    My partner and I aren't massive history buffs so 30 minutes was plenty of time for us to walk around and take lots of photos inside and outside but I'm sure if you're super knowledgeable about the history of the Pantheon you could spend hours in there!

    Also, the piazza right by The Pantheon is REALLY cute, I had a field day taking photos of the cute buildings and little alley ways off the piazza. There's a nice restaurant right there too although it appeared pretty pricey.

    Either way, I'd allow at least 30 minutes for The Pantheon - but if you're a history buff or a major architecture lover then you'll probably want lots more time!

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    Tardis in reverse

    markbroadhead recommends this,

    Unlike St Peter's Basilica, the Pantheon, for me at least, seemed bigger from the outside than the inside. Not that it feels small when you're inside, under the dome. But the outside doesn't seem to cohere with the inside. I suppose this is something to do with the disjoint between the Roman architecture on the outside and the Roman Catholic symbolism on the inside. Or maybe it is simply how big the door seems once you get inside.

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