| For romance, there’s Paris; for all-night partying and | | | | on Earth. Michelangelo even studied the dome |
| cavorting there’s Berlin; and for the ultimate bright | | | | structure before commencing work on the dome at St. |
| light, big city vibe, New York is probably up there with | | | | Peter's Basilica, which is also to be found in Rome. |
| the best of them. | | | | The original Pantheon actually dates all the way back |
| Likewise, those with a penchant for all things old could | | | | to the first century BC, commissioned by the |
| do a lot worse than head to Rome, which is the capital | | | | magistrate Marcus Agrippa, in celebration of the |
| city and ancient jewel in Italy’s crown. | | | | victory of Actium over Antony and Cleopatra. It burnt |
| From the Coliseum and Roman Forum, to the Sistine | | | | down over a century later and Hadrian had the temple |
| Chapel and countless other sites of historical Interest, | | | | reconstructed in 125 AD. |
| Rome transports visitors back to another time and | | | | The Pantheon has survived countless rulers, battles |
| place. What’s more, the pristine condition of many | | | | and natural disasters and it has influenced the design |
| of the ancient edifices means that little imagination is | | | | of many other buildings around the world, such as the |
| required as to what it would have felt like to have lived | | | | British Museum’s Reading Room (London), Thomas |
| in the heart of one of the greatest empires ever. | | | | Jefferson’s Rotunda at the University of Virginia, |
| This is perhaps best exemplified in the fantastic | | | | and libraries from as far afield as Columbia University |
| Pantheon, which is an ancient, domed temple dating | | | | to Melbourne. |
| back to the second century AD and is the most | | | | Rome’s historic centre was designated a World |
| complete, in-tact ancient building in the whole of Rome. | | | | Heritage Site in 1980, with the Pantheon singled out as |
| Moreover, it’s perhaps one of the best preserved | | | | being largely responsible for it achieving such special |
| buildings of its age in the world and at almost 2000 | | | | status. Today, the Pantheon and the city’s other |
| years old, what is most remarkable is that it’s still | | | | mesmerising ancient edifices bring tourists in their |
| used as a church to hold masses on important | | | | millions throughout the year. Of course, this means that |
| Catholic days of obligation and weddings. | | | | hotels in Rome are always in great demand, so it’s |
| Indeed, it is certainly one of the city's most alluring | | | | always wise to book as far ahead as possible to get |
| attractions and until the twentieth century, the | | | | a prime spot in the heart of this timeless city. |
| Pantheon was among the largest concrete structures | | | | |