Press 'Play' in the Pantheon (Part 2 of 3)

Two days in Rome led me to the three biggest sites in the second holiest city in the world.  After the first day's time at the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the second day led to stops at the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona and the Vatican, amongst others.  Today's post focuses on the most impressive of each of them: The Pantheon.

Though not as large as either the Colosseum or Saint Peter's Basilica, I considered my stop there the most enjoyable for a few reasons.  First, it wasn't too big that an hour or two couldn't do it justice.  Actually, an hour was plenty of time to make it around the site's 73 meter-diameter.  Second, the audio guide was cheap (five Euros) and did an adequate job of describing each of the primary artifacts held therein.  Third, it's probably the one site I've seen so far that has withstood the "test of time" better than any others.  At just about 2000 years old, little has been done to renovate or modify what the original architects built. 

Further, like most of Rome's sites, it was easy to walk to, being located close to the Forum, Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona.  Even someone hungover from a night spent at the bar with some of Britain's football hooligans could find the sauce to make it through one of Rome's hottest days at the Pantheon.  

Work began on the original structure in 27 BC as a dedication to the seven Gods.  After a couple of fires between 60 and 110 AD, the structure was rebuilt in 126 AD and has remained largely unchanged since.  Here, the only opening faces to the west.

The Pantheon's dome is 43 meters in diameter and is made of concrete of varying thicknesses.  Starting at six meters thick at the base, it ends at around two meters thick at the center hole, which remains uncovered.  Yup, rain enters the structure but isn't an issue due to the floor containing 22 hidden drainage holes.  Further, toward the beginning of the construction, a heat wave created by interior candles helped dissolve rain from entering the structure.

The main alter, shown in the center background was originally a huge statue that was later replaced by Clement II in the 18th century.

The first of eight chapels is the Chapel of Saint Joseph of the Holy Land.  Surrounded by five canvases from the 17th century, this monument depicts Saint Joseph with the Baby Jesus.

The second chapel is dedicated to one of Italy's first kings, Umberto I and his wife, Magharita Savoy.  An alabaster slab covers the tombs behind a porphyry statue.

The next chapel is dedicated to Rafael, who died in 1520.  Though not containing the artist's remains (they were later excavated and moved), the crypt has been an empty memory since 1833.  A statue of Madonna of the Stone watched over the vault; to its right is a bust of Rafael, who is the most famous artist commemorated at the Pantheon.

The Chapel of the Crucifix was dedicated to Christ in the 15th century and sits next to the high alter.

The High Alter, the Pantheon's central chapel.

To the opposite side of the alter from the Chapel of the Crucifix, the Chapel of he Madonna of Clemency contains two canvases and an inscription from the 15th century.  Centered is a portrait of the virgin with child between Saint Francis and Saint John the Baptist.

Across from Umberto I's chapel rests the tomb of Victor Emanual II of Savoy, who was considered to be the father of Italy, as his tomb is inscribed.

The last chapel is called the Chapel of the Annunciation; it contains three canvases, four marble busts and two marble angels that predate the 17th century.

One of the canvases from the Chapel of the Annunciation.

A pair of busts in the Chapel of Annunciation.

 Though I can't blame the hundreds of tourists milling around me for not getting themselves audio guides, I couldn't help but think they were missing out because there's no placards or site maps for most of the chapels.  Though they probably knew the ancient language and could figure it out, I wasn't so fortunate.  Regardless, I think they missed out a little, as the guide was probably the best I've done since the Windsor Castle tour and didn't take any longer than 45 minutes.

A Hail of Photos from the rest of the day...

The National Monument of Victor Emmanuel II or Altar of the Fatherland or "Il Vittoriano" is a monument to honor Victor Emmanuel, the first king of a unified Italy. It occupies a site between the Piazza Venezia and the Capitoline Hill. The monument was designed by Giuseppe Sacconi in 1885, inaugurated in 1911 and completed in 1935.

Standing 26 meters high and 20 meters wide, the Trevi Fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world. 

At the fountain, toss some change over a shoulder and guarantee either a return to Rome or a boost to your relationship status!  (no coins were tossed by this guy)

 

The Temple of Hadrian is a temple built by his adoptive son and successor Antoninus Pius in 145 AD and now incorporated into a later building in the Piazza di Pietra (Piazza of Stone). 

The Piazza Navona, one of Rome's most famous gathering areas.  Located between the Pantheon and the Vatican, this common contains one of Berlini's most famous fountains.

In the piazza's center stands the famous Fountain of the Four Rivers by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1651.

Before I arrived in Rome, I read about the city's plethora of public fountains.  As the guidebooks quipped, there's nothing like cooling off in one of them during the summer.  It only took a couple blistering days to see their point!

The tomb of the Roman emperor Hadrian, also called Hadrian's mole, was erected on the right bank of the Tiber (next to what's now the Vatican), between 135 AD and 139 AD.

*Again, I'd like to thank Wikipedia for some dates and names to expound upon my guides and books!