The Perfect Pantheon of Rome, Italy
Written: Dec 25 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Amazing site that is well preserved.
Cons: nothing I can think of
The Bottom Line: The Pantheon is one of old Romes most perfectly preserved and perfectly built treasures. Read on and get the facts.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: The Pantheon |
One of the most exciting things about Rome was not knowing what was around the corner. Yes, when we were touring we knew what was on our itinerary. The thing is, however, as you make your way to a destination there are so many little surprises that are encountered.
MAKING OUR WAY TO THE PANTHEON
We started one day early at the Spanish Steps. We were just enjoying the streets of Rome with it's sites, and it's people. We made our way through the fine shops that are nearby and then through the small winding streets to the Trevi Fountain, Fontana di Trevi. This was found after turning a corner of a narrow street. Suddenly there before us was the fountain in the middle of a small piazza. There were throngs of people there. It is known as the Worlds most spectacular wishing well. This is where the movie Three Coins in a Fountain was filmed. Fellini's La Dolce Vita had the fountain as a backdrop also. Actually it was more than a backdrop in that film as Anita Ekberg did her scene, not in front of, or near the fountain, but in it!!
This was a very crowded area but it was still a lot of fun. Vendors selling their "sculptures" of the fountain seemed more abundant than the tourists themselves.
From the fountain we continued on our trek through more small streets filled with stores and restaurants of all prices and quality. While walking the narrow streets we constantly encountered people on scooters. Every little alley had people zipping through on them or we would see them parked in every nook and cranny available.
We continued walking when again the darker streets opened up to the bright light of the sun in a huge piazza! People were walking about, vendors were selling tourist goods, many people were sitting at tables and chairs at outdoor restaurants, and street entertainers were hawking their talents for a few lira. It's now all Euro dollars. My eyes and ears took all this in while being drawn to the majestic piece of architecture in front of us, the Pantheon!
I knew it was coming up by studying street maps but time and time again in Italy, my wife and I would be engrossed in all that we encountered on the way and the spontaneity of it all when, "Surprise, it's here"!!
HERE IT IS!!
The building is quite commanding. It was one of "Ancient Romes" wonders, and still is. It is listed as an architectural wonder of the world because of it's use in concept of space and it's dome. Hey I don't know much about these concepts but I will tell you, "This place is awesome."
The portico at the front of the building was once part of a temple that was built before the Pantheon itself. That part is interesting to look at with its columns and capitals. At one time the outside was ringed with marble statues of pagan gods. They are long gone along with all the gold that once adorned the building that was completed in AD 125. It was plundered for its riches over the years.
The almost carnival atmosphere we encountered outside in the piazza contrasted with the sedate feeling inside. Though the place looks big from the outside it's when you go in that you feel the immensity of the structure. One of it's noted features is it's perfect dimensions. The Pantheon is 142 feet wide and exactly 142 feet wide. Looking up to the top of the dome I noticed an opening on the top in the middle. It's called an oculus. This is the only source of light in the building. The opening was there as an eye on the world. It's also where the smoke of sacrificed and burned animals escaped.
It is said that Michelangelo studied the dome many times while preparing the design of the cupola of St. Peter's. Michelangelo must have been paying respects to the grand builders of old because St. Peter's was built two feet smaller that the Pantheon. I also read that it was the largest dome in the world until 1960. Drats, the article never said which is now the largest. I hate when they do that!!
SOME FACTS
The walls of the structure are twenty five feet thick. The two bronze doors, which by the way, you pass through for free, weigh about 20 tons each. Hey that's 80,000 thousand pounds!
The building was made into a church in the seventh century. As you look around inside the building there is what I feel an odd combination of ancient Rome and the altars and shrines of the church. Over the years many people have found their resting place. The artist Raphael is among them.
You do have to check the hours of the Pantheon. They are different on certain days and seasons.
DINNER NEARBY
After the Pantheon we took a seven minute walk to a place for dinner that can only be known as unique for Rome. The name of the place is L'Eau Vive. Yes, I know that doesn't sound Italian. It's what it sounds like, French. The place is run by a French Missionary order of nuns. The sisters are from all around the world. They were written up as serving good classic French food. It was good, not great. The unique thing about them is that at a certain time of the evening they all stop cooking and serving for a few minutes to come out and sing prayerful songs. We sat in the upstairs room. it had frescos on the walls. The other halls and rooms had little shrines to saints and other types of Christian paintings. We enjoyed that. It was different. What we were not ready for was getting kidnapped!
KIDNAPPED!?!
We finished dinner and decided to have desert on the streets somewhere. We waited for our check. It didn't come. We asked for our check , it didn't come. Finally, I demanded the check, it still didn't come. We got up to leave. They asked if we could just wait one more minute so they could sing their song. This is one of the reasons we went to the place and sat down. Five minutes went by We mad eye contact. "One more minute" she mouthed. We waited and then finally the sisters came out and sang. It was lovely, but, we were in Rome and wanted to experience the streets. After many apologies from them we left with mixed feelings.
There are many places you can eat near the Pantheon. It was summer, sitting outside would have been the better choice for us.
Buses run nearby the Pantheon. The subway is a short walk, maybe ten to fifteen minutes away. It is easily walked to from Capitoline Hill.
They say, "All Roads lead to Rome", well the Pantheon is smack dab in the middle of it!.
More reviews of special places in Italy by popsrocks
The Colosseum
http://www.epinions.com/content_82927390340
The Cavallieri Hilton in Rome
www.Epinios.com/content_75315449476
The Spanish Steps
http://www.Epinions.com/content_83140644489
A side trip to Pisa
The Leaning Tower of Pisa and more!
http://www.Epinions.com/content_82621599364
The Danielli, our Five Star Hotel in Venice
http://www.Epinions.com/content_75531980420
or just click on popsrocks and follow to reviews by popsrocks.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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