Pantheon update

Charlotte, there are 'gift shops' at many, many churches and monuments all over the world. I've purchased English-language guidebooks or pamphlets at a fair amount of them, and figure the proceeds probably help maintain those structures. That's a good thing when so many churches in Rome are free to visit.

Long queues are a fact of life at important attractions everywhere in Europe. It's unfortunate but unless the most overrun come up with a way to limit access - like Galleria Borghese does - then it is what it is.

Over-tourism is a very big problem for some of our National Parks as well: Zion, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Arches, Yellowstone, Acadia, Glacier and others. As hikers, we've have been annoyed at the amount tourists who expect our natural treasures to be artificial Disneylands, and appalled at the damage some of them inflict on these sacred places.

No It is clear they need the money to preserve it and to pay for security because of terrorism.

To add: the Pantheon was supposed to have initiated a small entry fee this year but just how that was going to be collected was TBD. I see by recent TA reviews that it hasn't happened yet.

Jazz, good point about security: it has become an important necessity at many historic places.

I understand about selling guidebooks and souveniers, but I wish it was OUTSIDE the Pantheon, not inside. Kind of ruins being able to appreciate the building.

I just revisited the Pantheon and enjoyed it immensely. This time I knew more of the miracles involved in the building's construction which made it all the more enjoyable. While taking in the building, all the statuary, all the rich marble, and all the people, I didn't even notice a souvenir booth.

“ I knew more of the miracles involved in the building's construction ” - Mike, folks have been researching this for years and the debates are on-going. The problem is that there is no contemporary documentation on it’s construction. And what little information we do have comes from many years after it’s completio.n. The attribution of its design is conjectural and even its actual use is a bit of a mystery. When you get right down to it, much of what is presented as fact concerning Roman buildings is based on little solid information. That’s the fun with this culture. On some subjects we know a great deal and on others we know very little. There’s always more to dig for.....

Has anyone,been to mass there on Saturday at 5...wondering how early to get there