| The original Pantheon, meaning "Every god" was built in | | | | the structure, opposite the entrance, and on the altar, |
| 27-25 BC by Marcus Agrippa as a temple to all the | | | | was an icon of the Virgin Mary. It's actually still possible |
| Gods of Ancient Rome but nowadays a pantheon | | | | to get married there today. |
| can refer to any monument that honours the dead. It | | | | Many times in the Pantheon's history, the building has |
| was then burnt down in 80 AD and then rebuilt in 125 | | | | been looted by thieves who have stripped the place |
| AD by the emperor Hadrian. | | | | down and taken everything including the golden tiles |
| The Pantheon in Rome, Italy is one of the most visited | | | | that lay on the roof. Each time the items have been |
| tourist spots in the the whole of Italy and is the third | | | | replaced and the looting has become almost |
| most visited monument in Rome after Coliseum and | | | | non-existent in recent years. |
| Vatican Museums. Because the entrance to the | | | | The Pantheon structure has been studied by many, |
| Pantheon is free, it is hard to know exactly how many | | | | including Michaelangelo himself, who came to study the |
| people visit it every year but it is estimated that it | | | | dome of the Pantheon before he started working on |
| attracts around 1.5 million people annually. This is one of | | | | the dome of St Peters. The Pantheon's dome is 43m |
| the most complete and well preserved ruins in Rome, | | | | in height and 43m wide, making it a perfect sphere, sat |
| standing tall as the largest concrete structure | | | | on top of a cylinder. |
| worldwide until the early 20th Century. | | | | If you plan to visit the Pantheon during your next visit |
| The Pantheon was converted from an ancient temple | | | | to Rome, make sure you know how to get there. |
| to Roman Catholic Church just after the 7th century. | | | | There is no metro stop near the pantheon itself. You |
| Instead of being a place to worship the Gods, it | | | | can get the metro to Piazza Barberini stop it is about a |
| became dedicated to the Virgin Mary and continues to | | | | 15 minute walk. |
| do so until this day, in 609AD, an altar was added the | | | | |