When near the Pantheon, it would be rude not to pay a visit to this grande dame of Roman architecture. Standing in its current form for over 1850 years, it’s a magnet for tourists, whether on their first or later visit. While certainly ‘M Agrippa fecit’ the first version of this temple, the current facade dates from the time of Trajan or even Hadrian, with much evidence to suggest it may have been built by Apollodorus of Damascus,  responsible for Trajan’s Markets.

And, what better way to end this series of Roman blogs.

Inside, the coffered dome (now devoid of its original colour and decoration) and oculus remain as impressive as ever.

We visited just after a morning of heavy rain – answering the question what happens to a building open to the sky during and after a rain shower. While the water drains away, the area immediately under the oculus gets roped off.

And back outside, despite its age, the site dominates its surroundings and sits side by side with modern-day Rome!