Pantheon
A temple to all the gods rebuilt under Hadrian, with the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world.
The Pantheon you see was built under Emperor Hadrian around AD 125, though the inscription on its porch still names Agrippa, who built the first temple here. Behind the porch of granite columns lies a perfect round hall: the dome is exactly as wide as it is high, 43 metres.
The open eye at the top, the oculus, is its only window, and rain falls straight onto the floor, which slopes gently to drains. It survived because it became a church in 609; the painter Raphael and the first kings of Italy are buried inside.
More in Rome
ColosseumThe great amphitheatre of ancient Rome, opened in AD 80 for gladiator fights before some 50,000 people.
Trevi FountainRome’s grandest fountain, where a coin thrown over your shoulder means you will come back.
Piazza NavonaA long Baroque square on the outline of Domitian’s stadium, with Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers.
Roman ForumThe heart of ancient Rome: temples, basilicas and the Senate house, in a valley between the hills.
VittorianoThe huge white marble monument to Victor Emmanuel II on Piazza Venezia, nicknamed the typewriter.
Campo de’ FioriA lively square with a morning market and, in the middle, the hooded statue of Giordano Bruno.
Column of Marcus AureliusA marble column carved with the emperor’s wars along the Danube, standing on Piazza Colonna since the 2nd century.
Largo di Torre ArgentinaFour temples of the Republic sunk below the street, beside the spot where Julius Caesar was murdered.
VespaThe scooter that put post-war Italy on two wheels and rode through Roman Holiday.
NasoniThe little cast-iron drinking fountains on Rome’s street corners, running with fresh water all day.
SampietriniThe small black cobblestones of basalt that pave the streets of old Rome.
CarbonaraPasta with egg, guanciale, pecorino and black pepper: Rome’s own dish, with never a drop of cream.