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It
is an imposing monument
considered a masterpiece of
the Roman architecture. It
is one of the ancient and
best conserved monuments in
the world. Consul Agrippa
had it built in 27 A.D.
Placed in "Piazza della
Rotonda" near "Piazza
Minerva" it was named
"Pantheon" because it was a
temple dedicated to several
divinities. Thanks, first,
to the restoration by
Domiziano, and then to the
reconstruction by Adriano in
130 A.D., it has remained
nearly integral. In 609 A.D.
this temple was given by
Emperor Foca to Pope
Bonifacio IV and changed
into a church; this is the
reason why it is still in
excellent conditions. Nearly
all what you can admire was
built in Roman age, even the
dome, 43,4 metres high, and
the solid bronze door. The
arcade is decorated, inside,
with valuable polychrome
marbles whereas its façade
has 16 monolithic granitic
columns which are 14 metres
high. Inside, the "Pantheon"
has a circular plan and a
stately lacunar dome. The
only opening is in the
middle of the dome and
creates a luminous effect
that exalts the grandiosity
and the harmony of this
monument. In its chapels
there are numerous works of
art and the tombs of
thrItalian royal families,
of Baldassarre Peruzzi and
Taddeo Zuccari and, above
all, there is Raffaello's
grave. |