Hotels near Pantheon

The Pantheon is the best-preserved building of ancient Rome and one of the most influential pieces of architecture ever built. Commissioned originally by Marcus Agrippa around 27 BC and rebuilt by Hadrian in roughly 126 AD, it has been in continuous use for nearly two millennia, first as a Roman temple, then since 609 AD as a Catholic church.

The dome remains the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome, with an interior diameter of 43.3 metres - exactly equal to its height - and a 9-metre oculus at the top open to the sky. Inside lie the tombs of Raphael and the first two kings of Italy. Since July 2023 a small entry fee (around €5) applies on weekdays; Sundays remain free.

Pro Tip: Visit during a heavy rainstorm - the rain falls straight through the oculus onto the marble floor below, where centuries-old drainage holes carry it away. It is one of the most extraordinary experiences in Rome.