From 25 November 2025, visitors to Rome can enjoy a completely new way of experiencing the pantheon.
The innovative itinerary “Oltre il Pantheon” (“Beyond the Pantheon”) opens the doors to the hidden spaces of the Basilica of Neptune, an area normally closed to the public and located just behind the famous Rotunda and part of the Baths of Agrippa.
This new route reveals centuries of architectural transformations, religious adaptations, and archaeological discoveries that tell the complex story of the monument from ancient Rome up to the present day.
A Hidden World Behind the Pantheon
This newly accessible section preserves significant evidence of the long life of the Pantheon and the surrounding landscape of the ancient Campus Martius.
Visitors can see marble fragments, decorative elements, frescoes, and liturgical structures that once belonged to the Rotunda but were removed across the centuries as artistic and religious needs evolved.
Alongside these materials, the exhibition displays archaeological finds discovered during the major excavation campaigns of the late 19th century.
These artifacts shed light not only on the evolution of the Pantheon, but also on the transformations of the Basilica of Neptune and the broader urban context of ancient Rome.
Through beautifully curated architectural reconstructions, accurate 3D models, digital projections, and immersive multimedia devices, this new route gives visitors a deeper, more dynamic understanding of the monument and its surrounding area.
Between the Roman Pantheon and the Christian Pantheon
The visit begins with an immersive video-mapping installation projected onto the wall that separates the new route from the Rotunda.
This visual “deconstruction” of the ancient structure becomes a powerful storytelling tool, recreating the “special effects” of the oculus and showing how the Pantheon was designed as a cosmic instrument aligned with light, time, and the solar year.
Through this cinematic display, visitors can follow the path of sunlight through the temple during key moments of the Roman calendar—a unique way to appreciate the monument’s original symbolic and astronomical significance.
The Ancient Pantheon and the Landscape of the Campus Martius
The first part of the itinerary focuses on the imperial pantheon and the ancient environment that once surrounded it. With the help of 3D models, digital reconstructions, and archaeological materials, visitors can retrace the architectural evolution of the temple and visualize the original structure of the Basilica of Neptune.
A large interactive projection and a multimedia table allow guests to explore the building phases and the monumental transformations of the entire complex in a hands-on, engaging way.
The Christian Pantheon: From 609 to the Baroque Age
The second section is dedicated to the Pantheon after its consecration as a Christian church in 609 AD.
One of the highlights is an almost life-sized reconstruction of the 8th-century ciborium, decorated with elegant facing peacocks—symbols of eternity and rebirth—brought back to life thanks to meticulous restoration and study.
Nearby, visitors can admire a detached fresco discovered during works for the royal tombs, offering rare insight into the early medieval decoration of the church.
The reconstructed 17th-century aedicule, dismantled in the 1960s and preserved in fragments for decades, is also displayed in its full monumental form for the first time in modern history.
Visitors can finally appreciate its original structure and imagine the icon of the Madonna of the Pantheon that once stood inside it.
As highlighted by the Ministry of Culture, the route is now fully accessible thanks to a newly installed internal elevator, making the experience inclusive for all visitors.
Practical Information
- Visits are available every day except the first Sunday of the month
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Group size: Maximum 25 people
- Tickets:
- Special visit to the Basilica of Neptune: €10 (free for under-18s)
- Entrance to the Pantheon: €5, with reductions available by law
- Booking: Exclusively through the Musei Italiani app (iOS and Android)
Entrance to the Rotunda is via a dedicated access point inside the Basilica of Neptune, allowing a seamless continuation of the visit.
Experience the Pantheon with a professional guide!
If you would like to explore the Pantheon and the newly opened spaces of the Basilica of Neptune with a professional guide, Italian ArtVentures offers exclusive private tours in Rome.
Contact us for more info!
To read the full official announcement, visit the Italian Ministry of Culture here:
