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The open oculus and coffered dome inside the Pantheon in Rome

Pantheon

A Roman portico opens into the Pantheon’s circular interior, where the open oculus lights an ancient dome and a living basilica.

  • Rome
  • Monument
Plan your visit
Where
Piazza della Rotonda, Rome
Best for
Portico

The surprise of the Pantheon lies at the threshold. A columned portico gives way to a circular room, and the dome gathers the whole interior beneath a single opening to the sky. Take in the floor and the wall chapels before looking up: the building’s coherence comes from their relationship.

Agrippa’s name, Hadrian’s building

The inscription honours Marcus Agrippa, who founded an earlier Pantheon. The present monument belongs to the Hadrianic rebuilding in the second century CE. Its conversion into Santa Maria ad Martyres in 609 gave the ancient structure a continuing religious purpose.1,2

Follow the light, then the floor

The coffers draw the eye towards an oculus that is open, not glazed. Rain can enter and drains through openings in the floor. Around the perimeter, the tomb of Raphael and the burials of Italy’s royal family add later layers of memory to the Roman interior.2,3

A monument and a place of worship

The basilica remains a place of worship. Dress and behave accordingly, and check the official visitor page for ticket arrangements and access around religious celebrations. A sightseeing visit and attendance for worship follow different arrangements.1

Three things worth finding

If you see nothing else, see these.

  1. Portico

    Notice the granite columns before entering the Rotonda.Entrance

  2. Agrippa’s inscription

    The name recalls the founder of the earlier monument.Facade

  3. Coffered dome

    Follow the recessed pattern towards the open oculus.Rotonda

Plan your visit

Booking
Check booking requirements
Getting there
The entrance faces Piazza della Rotonda in central Rome.
Accessibility
The visitor guidance identifies an external ramp on the Via della Minerva side; confirm any specific requirements with the monument.

Consult the official Pantheon visitor page for the current ticket options and arrangements during worship.

Pause at the threshold to compare the rectangular portico with the circular interior.

Official website
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Piazza della Rotonda, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Good to know

Is there glass over the oculus?

No. The opening admits rain, which drains through holes in the floor.

Who built the Pantheon?

Agrippa founded an earlier building; the surviving monument belongs to Hadrian’s reconstruction.

Is the Pantheon still a church?

Yes. It is the Basilica of Santa Maria ad Martyres, consecrated in 609.

Where can I check tickets?

Start with the Ministry of Culture’s Pantheon visitor page, which links to the official sales channel.

More to see nearby

Same city first, then the nearest across the region.

Sources and citations (5)
  1. Pantheon e Basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres
  2. Cenni storici
  3. The Pantheon
  4. Pantheon: Historical background
  5. Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura

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