At the heart of the tourist city of Rome we find this imposing building nearly 2000 years it has housed a pagan temple, a Christian church and the Academy of the Virtuosi of Rome.
is currently one of the most visited and personally surprised me most of the city of Rome, where they are celebrating Masses and weddings.
Walking through the streets that separate the Piazza Navona to the Trevi Fountain, suddenly comes a place in which for many is the so-called "most beautiful building world."
In fact, one of the greatest artists of all time, Miguel Angel, said the Pantheon which had a " Design Angelic and nonhuman ".
The original building dates from the year 27 BC, and is known as the Pantheon, as was the Consul of the emperor Augustus decided to build a temple to all gods (Pan = All ) (theon = gods).
The seven celestial gods in Roman mythology: the sun, moon and five planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn) were represented in each of the seven temples of the interior.
After several fires, had to rebuild almost the entire temple almost half a century later, under the English reign of Emperor Hadrian.
The temple has a porch eight Corinthian columns that served as a prelude to a large circular vessel is 43.5 meters in diameter covered by a large dome of the same size.
In the frieze of the portico can read the inscription:
M.AGRIPPA.LFCOS.TERTIVM.FECIT
(Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, Consul for the third time, did)
But what makes this building unique is the huge dome 43.5 meters in diameter that rises to 43.5 meters above the ground, so it can form a perfect sphere inside that symbolizes the universe according to representation of Plato's cosmological conception.
Such is the respect he had in Rome at this building, the dome of the Basilica of St. Peter's was built a little smaller than the Pantheon.
It's amazing to think that in the first century AD construction techniques were so advanced as to the Renaissance did not build another dome of similar dimensions.
To lighten the heavy weight of the dome, lighter materials were used in the upper zones, the thickness is reduced gradually until the oculus of 8.9 meters in diameter, and caissons were made inside the dome to reduce the weight of it without affecting the housing.
At the bottom were used for heavier materials that could withstand the weight of the dome, which were added to the altars and windows helped to distribute the burdens and lighten weight.
By having an opening in the center of the dome, the lighting of the building is insured, but to avoid flooding the rain, the soil is higher in the central area and decreases progressively to a drainage channel located on the perimeter of the room To this must be added several drainage holes scattered throughout the room.
If we come to Piazza della Minerva, we can see the relieving arches embedded in the wall of the upper floor and are now visible due to the disappearance of the original coating.
can also find the tomb of one of the great Renaissance artist, Raphael, who participated in the decoration of the Vatican rooms with works like "The School of Athens ."
Like other monuments, lighting Pantheon evening wraps it in a mystique broken only by the murmur of the crowd that filled the Piazza della Rotonda at any time.
