I'd always wanted to see the Pantheon, but I had not expected it to have quite the impact that it did - there are bigger, flashier sights, but something about the Pantheon really endeared it to me - it's a warm, friendly old thing!
I first encountered it entirely by accident one evening in a rain storm. The exterior is striking (and nicely lit at night) and the interior open and inviting, as well as beautiful. The dome is remarkable, with its oculus open to the sky - there are signs telling people to be quiet because it is, after all, a church, but the crowd sheltering inside was joyous with many enjoying the unusual experience of indoor rain, and the building didn't seem to mind the laughter...
I returned to the Pantheon a couple more times during my stay, it is a remarkable place, always welcoming, never oppressive, but awesome, beautiful, and powerful. You have to remind yourself that this massive building is nearly 2000 years old, yet it remains strong and doubtless will be there long after we are gone.
As an added bonus, there are decent restaurants around the square in front of the Pantheon with some very good street musicians for entertainment - on a Friday night there was a male opera singer who was outstanding. The perfect compliment to this wonderful building - I'm sure I will never return to Rome without going back to it.
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