The Pantheon Rome at Night

The Pantheon is the best preserved Imperial Roman building in Rome. It was commissioned by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) and rebuilt by the emperor Hadrian about 126 AD. Agrippa was Augustus' right hand man and general.

The building is circular with a portico of large granite Corinthian columns seen here. A rectangular vestibule links the porch to the rotunda, which is under a coffered concrete dome, with a central open oculus to the sky. The Pantheon's dome is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome.

The Pantheon has been in continuous use throughout its history, and since the 7th century, it has been used as a Catholic church dedicated to St. Mary and the Martyrs.