The Pantheon in Rome is one of antiquity’s most astonishing survivors: a nearly 2,000-year-old Roman building that still functions as a church. Rebuilt under Emperor Hadrian around 125 AD, it stands on the site of an earlier temple commissioned by Agrippa, whose name remains on the portico. Its conversion into a Christian church in the seventh century helped preserve it through centuries of upheaval.
Inside, the scale is startling. The vast concrete dome spans 43.3 metres, exactly matching the height from the floor to its crown. At its centre, the open oculus lets daylight—and rain—into the rotunda, where the floor drains away the water. Look beyond the moving circle of light to find richly coloured marble, chapels and the tomb of the Renaissance painter Raphael, as well as those of two Italian kings.
Book admission through the official ticketing portal, particularly in the busy summer months, and check current prices and opening arrangements before you go. An early visit can make the interior easier to appreciate before crowds build. Remember that the Pantheon is an active church: dress respectfully and be prepared for access to change around religious services. Afterwards, leave the crowded café terraces of Piazza della Rotonda for a coffee on a nearby side street.