To save time, we took a cab to Pantheon.

A good call...as it nestled in these narrow streets..

but then again, where it stands was not chosen by chance.

It is a legendary place in the city's history. According to Roman legend, it is the place where the founder of Rome, Romulus, at his death was seized by an eagle and taken off into the skies with the Gods.

PANTHEON

^the Latin lettering on the entablature inscribed in bronze read: M AGRIPPA L F COS TERTIUM FECIT, which translates to "Built by Marcus Agrippa, the son of Lucius, third counsul."

Quote:

The Pantheon (Latin Pantheon, from Greek Πάνθειον Pantheon, meaning "Temple of all the gods") is a building in Rome which was originally built as a temple to all the gods of Ancient Rome, and rebuilt circa 125 AD during Hadrian's reign. The intended degree of inclusiveness of this dedication is debated. The generic term pantheon is now applied to a monument in which illustrious dead are buried. It is the best preserved of all Roman buildings, and perhaps the best preserved building of its age in the world. It has been in continuous use throughout its history. Since the 7th century, the Pantheon has been used as a Christian church. The Pantheon is currently the oldest standing domed structure in Rome. source: http://www.romeguide.it

Michelangelo (1475-1564) looked at everything with an artist's critical eye, and he was not easily impressed. But when Michelangelo first saw the Pantheon in the early 1500s, he proclaimed it of "angelic and not human design." Surprisingly, at that point, this classic Roman temple, converted into a Christian church, was already more than 1350 years old.

The Pantheon is the Roman monument with the greatest number of records:
the best preserved, with the biggest brick dome in the history of architecture and is considered the forerunner of all modern places of worship and it is the most imitated of all ancient works.





The front portico has three rows of 8 columns, each one with a diameter of 1.5m, 11.8m tall and 60 tons in weight.

The huge columns were quarried in Egypt and transported all the way to Rome using barges and vessels.
Theses columns support a pediment with an inscription attributing the Pantheon to Marcus Agrippa even though it was built by Hadrian.



A huge bronze door gives access to the cylindrical building.
Just so you can imagine the size, its diameter equals the interior height of 43.3m.


The interior is a perfect circle, its diameter and height are exactly same, 43.3m.
The wall is 6.05m thick and on the lower level are seven niches with a pair of Corinthian columns.











^tomb of painter Raphael


The building's dome, more than 43 meters high to me is the most impressive part of the monument.
Until 1436(when the Florence Cathedral was constructed), it was the largest dome in the world.


At the top of the dome is a large opening, the oculus, which was the only source of light.

The oculus also helped reduce the massive weight of the dome, which was the most important problem the Romans faced during its construction.



PIAZZA DELLA ROTONDA
This square is found right in front of the Pantheon. The Pantheon dominated the place so much that the Romans simply call this "square of the Pantheon".Surrounding this square are the façades of the XVIII century's palaces.

In the middle of the square, stands an elegant marble fountain decorated with dophins and maskarons.

Made in the time of Clement XI, he had it surmounted with an obelisk in 1711.


As with the other fountains, Nafisa simply had to touch the water...