Rop Saltberg
It seems that tourists have to buy a ticket to visit the Pantheon of Rome. Admission to the world-famous basilica is now free. The Ministry of Culture expects to earn 21 million euros annually, money that can be invested in the maintenance of the building.
The plans to charge access for a visit to the Pantheon come from culture minister Dario Franceschini. He believes that the seven million visitors who visit the building each year have no problem buying a ticket. That should cost about three euros. The proceeds are for the restoration and funds for the other museums in the city, according to Franceschini's plans.
Meanwhile, proponents and opponents of the levy are stirring. Because even though there are exceptions, in most cases the Vatican is against charging entrance fees in the buildings of the church. Nevertheless, there is some support for the plans from the diocese of Rome. 'We could build a tourist route through churches that are frequently visited. Those routes can be used if there are no church services,' said a spokesperson.
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The Pantheon was built in AD 125 on the site of an earlier temple that was destroyed by fire. The building is best known for the enormous unreinforced concrete dome, which has a diameter of more than 43 meters. The roof of the dome has an opening of almost nine meters, so that rain has free play, but also makes the building more resistant to earthquakes.
'I was honestly surprised that I was allowed to enter for free,' says a French tourist. She just arrived in Rome and wanted to be the first to visit the Pantheon. 'If the building is maintained with my money, that seems fine to me.' But a Spaniard objects: 'Don't I already pay tourist tax to see Rome? Then why do I have to pay extra money here again?'
Photo Pantheon: Rop Zoutberg
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