Rome's Pantheon: everything you need to know before visiting it

When you travel to Rome, remember that there are many ancient buildings that are well preserved and that you can visit. This is the case of the Pantheon.

The Pantheon was damaged in the fire of 80 A.D. It was Emperor Hadrian who was in charge of rebuilding it in the second century. In 608, Boniface IV asked to transform it into the Basilica of Santa Maria. Read on to learn about the best options to visit this great work.

The best option

Rome Pantheon Audio Guided Tour

Don't miss any detail of the Pantheon with this self-guided tour.

I always recommend opting for this audio-guided tour to understand and learn all the details of the best preserved temple in Rome and to discover all its points of interest.

From $17 at Hellotickets

This temple is an essential visit on your trip to Rome, although I recommend that if you want to make the most of your visit, opt for a visit with audio guide to the Pantheon of Rome, as you will not miss any detail thanks to an audio guide and a map with 15 points of interest, including the tomb of Raphael Sanzio, painter and architect of the Renaissance in Italy; or the oculus of its dome, mathematically perfect.

Learn with this audio guide, approximately 35 minutes long, all about this unique monument of the second century, which began as a pagan temple dedicated to various gods and later, in the seventh century, became a Christian church.

Recommended if... you do not want to miss any detail of the best preserved temple in Rome, at an affordable price and with a flexible visit.

Because it is a place of religious worship, entrance to the Pantheon (now a Basilica) was previously free. However, it has been decided by the Italian Ministry of Culture to implement an entrance fee of 5 euros to give access to anyone who wants to visit the monument.

To do this, it is necessary to buy it in advance at the ticket office or on the web, but this will have to be validated upon arrival at the Pantheon. But if you are interested in Roman history and want to delve into the details of this incredible monument, you also have the option of hiring this audio tour to know the highlights of the Pantheon of Rome and learn about its history.

As with all great monuments, you can also book a guided tour of the Pantheon, which guarantees a great experience for all tourists. It includes a tour guide who obviously knows the ancient building very well, so you will get reliable information about its construction, architecture and history.

In addition, if you want to make the most of your trip to Rome, you can also purchase a guided tour of the Pantheon and Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in Rome for about three hours, one of the most beautiful churches in the city and the place where the scientist Galileo Galilei was tried. In addition, the visit is in a small group of about 10 people, but if you want even a more personalized option, you can opt for the private guided tour.

The Pantheon, also known by the cardinal title of Santa Maria dei Martiri, is a perfect example of Roman architecture. Its design is characterized by its harmony and balance. The construction of the building is impeccable. Although it is currently a religious center, inside there are several tombs such as that of the Renaissance painter Raphael Sanzio.

• Take aclose look at the dome: It is built with unreinforced concrete and has a diameter of 43.44 meters. As for its oculus, it is 9 meters. Moreover, sunlight enters through the oculus, so as the day progresses, the interior of the Pantheon is a gigantic sundial. It is as if the wall is telling the time. What stands out most is that, at the time, the buildings were meant to be viewed from the outside. However, the Pantheon is a place that deserves to be admired from the inside.
• The Pentecost: The way this day is celebrated at the Pantheon is well known in Italy and other countries. A shower of petals is made. The petals are dropped through the oculus and the Fire Brigade helps to do it. This event is done after mass, around 10:30 am, about 50 days after the Roman Holy Week.
• Admire the exterior: Like other places built in ancient Rome, the Pantheon has an imposing construction. I encourage you to take a few minutes to see its exterior structure and how this place manages to complement the surrounding modern buildings. When night falls over Rome, the Pantheon is illuminated, which makes it even more imposing. Also, in Piazza della Rotonda, one of the best squares in Rome, there are always things to entertain you.
• Visit the only Gothic church in Rome: I recommend that after visiting the Pantheon, you go to Santa Maria sopra Minerva, the only Gothic and religious building in Rome. It is located in Piazza della Minerva, about 230 meters from Piazza della Rotonda. If you walk from one square to the other, you have to walk less than 10 minutes. When it was built, the building was a pagan temple dedicated to Minerva, considered the patron saint of artisans and the protector of Rome. Some of the sculptures that stand out are the 'Christ embracing a cross' and 'An elephant with an Egyptian obelisk'.

It is located south of Piazza della Rotonda and there are several ways to get there from whatever part of the city you are in. The available transports are: cab, bus, streetcar and metro. Here's what to do with each one:

• Cab: if you want to get to the building quickly, it is best for you to choose this option. Just tell the cab driver to take you to Piazza della Rotonda and from there you walk to the Pantheon. The price starts at 9 euros.
• Bus: lines 30, 40, 62, 64, 81, 87 and 492, get off at the Largo di Torre Argentina stop which is located approximately 400 meters from the Pantheon of Rome.
• Streetcar: it is the cheapest way to get to the Pantheon, the price is about 3 euros and you take line 40 at Roma Termini station. The trip will take about 15 minutes.
• Rome Metro: take line A to the Barberini stop, which is about 700 meters from the famous Roman building.

Yes, I'm sure many children find it fun to go to a place that has existed for centuries and is very well preserved. Of course, I encourage you to mention to them that inside the Pantheon you should not run, talk too loudly and, much less, shout.

In addition, I recommend you to do specific activities for children so that they also have fun experiences on their vacation. In another article I will tell you what things you can do in Rome with kids.

To determine how much time you should dedicate to visit the Pantheon in Rome you need to consider the following:

• Where you are located: on this depends how long it will take you to get to the famous Roman Pantheon.
• How many people will be waiting to enter: remember that during the week the entrance is free, so it is normal that there will be several groups of people waiting their turn for the tour. In case you make a reservation for a weekend or holiday, this is not a problem, as the time you can go is shown on the reservation.
• Duration of the tour: it lasts between 30 and 40 minutes. The last entrance is at 6:45 pm.

Do you have a reservation to visit this Pantheon? In that case, ideally you should be on time, if possible, arrive 30 minutes to 1 hour before the tour starts. That way, you will have the opportunity to visit Piazza della Rotonda and its surroundings.

The Basilica of Santa Maria is open daily from 9 am to 7 pm. In case a religious event is planned, this schedule may change, if so, you will be informed upon arrival or when booking online.

The only days of the year when the Basilica is closed are: January 1 and December 25. Those visiting Rome at Christmas need not worry, there is still plenty to see in the city.

As it is a religious building, it is normal that inside the Pantheon the behavior of visitors is taken care of. Therefore, what I advise you to do is to avoid doing the following when you visit:

• Talking loudly.
• Sit on the floor.
• Leaning on the walls.
• Wearing hats, caps or clothing inappropriate for the Basilica (sleeveless blouses, vests and shorts).
• Entering with animals.

The Pantheon is also called the " Pantheon of Marcus Agrippa" and is on the list of the best monuments in Rome and the best things to do in Rome. It is one of the most famous places in the city, admiring its architecture from the outside is amazing, but observing the inside is spectacular. In this article I have explained everything about this building, I hope you enjoy your trip to the fullest, buon viaggio!