Rome, Italy
Sights
Coliseum
St. Peter's Basilica
Vatican Museums
Sistine Chapel
Trevi Fountain
Spanish Steps
Piazza Navona
Piazza Venezia
Roman Forum
Ancient Rome
Pantheon
St. Ignazio

Hints and Tips
Accomodation
Restaurants
Travel in Rome

The Pantheon was probably built by Emperor Hadrian in AD 118 who modestly attributes the temple to AGRIPPA (see the huge inscription on the front of the building). Emperor Marcus Agrippa (son-in-law of Augustus) built the original temple on the site between 27 and 25 BC.

It houses the tombs of Raphael and some Kings of modern Italy. Light can only enter the Pantheon via the large circular hole in the ceiling called the oculus. The ceiling's structure is made using hollow decorateve coffers to reduce its weight. The walls of the section supporting the dome are 6m thick. Partially for this reason it is the best preserved building from ancient Rome.