Must See in Rome The Pantheon

No single city comes even close. It may no longer hold the glorious title of the Capital of the World (caput mundi), but Rome remains a legend. All it requires is a single visit, and you will be hypnotized with the mystical buildings and enigmatic structures. Rome's history goes back longer than 3 millennia. Whether you are in Rome for 4 days, 4 months or 4 years, Rome will seduce you till the end. It's the world's biggest open air museum. It's vast and huge and hard to believe. Each and every place you visit, you will be transported back to the era it has evolved from. One such structure is the Pantheon.

Built more than 1800 years ago, The Pantheon (Greek word meaning- to honor every god) stands in the heart of the Roman city. It is a temple of the entire gods of ancient Rome. It stands tall and erect, even after withstanding centuries of invasion and pillage. As the Greek tales go, it was built by Marcus, the son in law of Augustus, the first Roman emperor. It was later rebuilt by Hadrian.

What remains today is radically different from what the original temple was. The giant dome is about 146 feet in diameter and enjoyed the rank of largest dome for quite some time. Another architectural fact to note is that the distance of the dome from the floor is exactly equal to its diameter. At the top of the dome is the oculus, a large opening, which is the only source of light. There is a huge door made of bronze that gives access to visitors. The massive columns support the portico weighing 60 tons each. Each pillar was 39 feet in length, 5 feet in diameter, and were made from special stone from Egypt. They were transported along the Nile and the Mediterranean.

The Pantheon was saved from pillage by turning it into a Roman Catholic church. It is dedicated to "St. Mary and the Martyrs" but informally it is called Santa Maria Rotonda. The Pantheon is undoubtedly the best preserved piece of ancient Roman building. Some texts even mention the Pantheon as the most influential structure of Western Europe. The style of the Pantheon has been copied in many nineteenth and twentieth century buildings. Various universities, city halls and libraries echo its magnificence.

The piazza Della Rotondo, a lively square having various cafés, bars and restaurants, is bordered by the Pantheon. It is a crowded square with a central fountain and an obelisk. Visit the interior of the Pantheon during the day and then return at night. On warm summer nights, the Pantheon is lit from below and stands as a mystical reminder of Roman history. Enjoy the view with a drink in hand, and though the drink may be expensive, you can drink at your leisure and soak up the views, one of the delights of being in Europe. The view is unparalleled and so is the experience.