Pantheon

Location

Rome
Italy
41° 53' 54.9996" N, 12° 28' 36.7428" E
IT
General info: 

Pantheon is one of the best-preserved of all Roman buildings. It was completed around 14AD and has been in continuous use ever since which is probably why it is still in a very good shape. Built in the times of Octavian Augustus, the temple was dedicated to all Gods of Roman religion.

The fascination of the Pantheon lies in its massive dimensions and extraordinary dome. Until 15th century it was the largest dome in the world. Now, almost two thousand years after it was built, the Pantheon's dome is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome.

The symmetry of the structure is precisely calibrated – its diameter is exactly equal to the Pantheon's interior height of 43.3m. Light enters through the oculus, an 8.7m opening in the dome that also served as a symbolic connection between the temple and the gods. The entering rainwater drains away through 22 almost-invisible holes in the sloping marble floor.

Since the 7th century, Pantheon has been used as a Roman Catholic church.

Getting there: 

In ancient times, Patheon was the epicenter of life in Rome. The city grew grew around it and that is why this place is now located in the very heart of Rome, on the Piazza della Rotonda. Easiest to go there by foot.

Costs: 

Patheon is nowadays used as a Christian church. The admission is free of charge.

Interesting places nearby

The ski resort Innsbrucker Nordkettenbahnen used to be a secret tip for insiders, today it's the place where the best snowboarders of the world meet. It takes just a few minutes to get from the town to the high Alpine area.

You can have both worlds - rest and recreation in the winter sunshine, and the fun of doing active sports.

The Silvretta - Arena in Tyrol lies in between the two mountain ranges Silvretta and the Verwall Alps. Their peaks reach up to over 3000 m altitude.

With less than 600 year round residents, the resort of Isola 2000 is nestled at the gateway to the Mercantour National Park; only 4km from the Franco-Italian boarder (not open through the winter).

This mountain village is a winter holiday resort too. The beautiful skiing area is open to skiers of all categories and ages. There is an illuminated cross-country skiing trail and many popular stops for ski tour enthusiasts.

Berchtesgadener region is renowned for its saline fresh air spas. The local region also offers much in the way of sports and recreational activities.

BASE: 1771ft
SUMMIT: 4639ft
VERTICAL DROP: 2867ft