Pantheon no longer free for tourists

While sad to see easy entry go (well, the pandemic and the checking of vaccine cards and limiting numbers of people did that as well) it really is no different than everywhere else. I used to enjoy wandering by, slipping in for a few minutes, just to marvel at the dome for a while, and slip out.

I suppose it could get a bit out of hand though, wall off the Trevi fountain and charge a fee? Maybe just rope off an area and pay to get close? Piazza Navona would be a natural for entry gates, maybe toll pedestrian bridges, the possibilities are endless.

Thanks for the info. Any news on when the fee starts? I leave for Italy tomorrow.

Carrie, at this time, it's still free according to the Pantheon website: https://www.pantheon-rome.com/opening-hours

There's a link within that link to the Press Release. the last sentence;

"The ticket will be introduced as soon as the technical steps necessary to allow visitors to purchase the coupon are completed."

So no firm date yet.

5 Euros is still a bargain and entirely fair if it helps with upkeep. But as with any government charge, in any country, I have a deep mistrust that the money will be put into a general revenue pool and not singled out for its intended use. But maybe I'm being cynical. As a guest in Rome, I'll still pay it and it'll be worth the money.

LOL, this has been kicked around since 2016, only the price has gone up. Not sure if I'd put money on when-or-if it will actually happen! :O)

https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/italy-rome-pantheon-set-to-charge-visitors-entry-fee.html
https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/romes-pantheon-to-charge-2-entry-fee.html
https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1E51Q6

All museums in Italy operate at a loss, even the Uffizi, which probably has the highest number of visitors in Italy (Vatican Museums are not in Italy), regardless of how much they charge.

So if they are open, it's thanks to the benevolence of taxpayers and donors.

I wonder if it'll be a line up and pay as you enter thing, or the dreaded timed-entry.