The Best-Preserved Pantheon

M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIVM·FECIT stands for 'Marcus Agrippa, Lucii filius, consul tertium fecit' which translates to "'Marcus Agrippa, son ofLucius, Consul for the third time, built this"

While walking along the Piazza della Rotonda, I saw a huge building with magnificent marble columns---a brave reminder of the great Roman Empire!  The impressive Pantheon was built 1800 years ago originally as a temple for all the gods.  It is one of the best-preserved historical buildings I have ever encountered.

The Portico's 16 huge, 60-ton columns (1.5 meter in diameter) came all they way from Egypt, quarried and transported via barges and vessels.  

"Emperor Hadrian was responsible for rebuilding the Pantheon on the site of Agrippa's original temple."

While inside, I got lucky when a boy's choir with angelic voices performed right before my eyes.   

 

The Pantheon houses the tombs of popular Renaissance artist Raphael and several Italian Kings like Victor Emanuel II.

Victor Emanuel II was the King of Italy, a title he held until his death in 1878. The Italians gave him the epithet Father of the Fatherland (Padre della Patria).

Victor Emanuel II unified Italy.

Outside of the Pantheon is the Plazza della Rotonda where tourists do some photo-ops in this crowded square. 

I have always been a vanguard of preservation.  Cultural heritage is a national treasure.  We should always remember our history, share them to the world and learn from it just like the Romans did.