St. Mary of the Martyrs might seem like another church amongst the hundreds in Rome. However this church has been described as a tomb for the illustrious dead, best preserved Roman building, mathematical wonder, celebrated temple for gods. If you still haven’t guessed, this is none other than the Pantheon.
Smaller and more modest than its present day counterpart, the original Pantheon built in 27BC by Marcus Agrippa, was reconstructed around 120 AD. Commissioned by Emperor Hadrian to service the population’s growing religious diversity, he continued in the same vein as Agripp,a allowing a place of worship for all gods.
It was proclaimed a church in 609AD, inadvertently becoming the coveted final resting place of Raphael, Kings Vittorio Emanuele II and Umberto I. Its secured place as a man-made mathematical and engineering marvel, stems from the fact that firstly, it is still standing throughout centuries without any steel reinforcement and the diameter of the interior circle and the height to the oculus is incredibly the same (43.3 meters; 142ft).
After admiring from the inside why not live La Dolce Vita and leisurely sip a café in the piazza filled with a number of restaurants and bars. The Pantheon provides the perfect backdrop for a night time stroll; lovingly and dependably watching over her treasures as she has done for centuries. Boutique Hotel Trevi and Hotel Genio are two of our hotels close by this marvel.
1 day, First day