Pantheon

Pantheon is one of the most fantastic, surprising, and enchanting monuments in Rome. Still perfectly preserved from ancient times. The Pantheon, the temple of all gods, has its origin thanks to Consul M. Vipsani Agrippa who in the years 27-25 BC. gave the order to build it. Although this building was originally built to honor Augustus and his adoptive father G.I. Caesar, according to legend, Augustus rejected this honor, and so the building became a temple dedicated to the greatest gods of the time, Jupiter, Mars, and Venus. Subsequently, the temple was dedicated also to other gods, and so was created also the name of the temple.

The title above the entrance M. AGRIPPA L.F. COS.TERTIUM FECI testifies by whom the Pantheon was built. However, the Pantheon was later destroyed by fire, until Emperor Hadrian gave the order to build a new building that we see till now. But even after many other interventions, naturals or humans, the Pantheon has never lost its charm and beauty.

After Christianity had come, this perfect building was in danger of ruin. Since the Pantheon was consecrated to all pagan gods, they wanted to demolish it. But Pope Boniface IV saved it from destruction, and transformed the Pantheon into a Christian church and dedicated it to the Virgin Mary. Today the Pantheon is known as the Church of Santa Maria dei Martiri.

The Pantheon attracts tourists mainly with its exceptional architecture. This circular structure carries above it the largest dome of antiquity, in which the only source of natural light is the oculus. In addition, we can also find the tombs of the Italian kings, tombs of Vittorio Emanuele II. and Umberto I, or even the tomb of the important Renaissance artist, the tomb of Raphael.

Around the Pantheon, we can also see a beautiful marble fountain and a huge obelisk that comes from the Egyptian temple which was dedicated to the goddess Eset.

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