Itinerary from Piazza del Popolo to the Pantheon

From Piazza del Popolo, we walk along Via del Corso, Rome's historic thoroughfare that follows the ancient Roman mile (about 1.6 km). Today the beating heart of shopping, the street is lined with sumptuous noble palaces that lead to Piazza Colonna. Here stands the imposing Column of Marcus Aurelius, a triumphal monument nearly 42 meters high, erected between 176 and 192 AD to celebrate the emperor's victories over the Germanic tribes. Directly opposite the square is the Galleria Alberto Sordi, a refined shopping center and a masterpiece of Art Nouveau style.

A few steps away is Palazzo Montecitorio, home to the Chamber of Deputies since 1871. Continuing through the charming alleys of the center, we reach the Pantheon, a symbol of Rome's magnificence for over two thousand years. Located in the Pigna district, the "temple of all the gods" (from the Greek Pántheon) was founded in 27 BC by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. The building we admire today, however, is the result of the reconstruction commissioned by Emperor Hadrian (112-124 AD), made necessary after the devastating fires of 80 and 110 AD destroyed the original structure.

The architecture is striking for its majestic pronaos, supported by sixteen Corinthian columns that lead to the famous Rotunda. This circular cella is protected by massive walls and eight monumental pillars, designed to support the weight of the extraordinary hemispherical concrete dome. At the top of the vault is the oculus, the only source of natural light, capable of creating almost mystical plays of light.

The secret of its beauty lies in its geometric balance: the building's height is exactly equal to its diameter, creating a perfect sphere that embodies the classical canons of harmony. Millennia later, the Pantheon's dome not only remains one of the largest in the world, but still holds the record for the largest dome ever built in unreinforced concrete.