Rome's Pantheon raises entry fee to €7 for tourists

The Pantheon in Rome increased its admission fee from €5 to €7 in early July 2026, following an agreement between the Italian Ministry of Culture (MiC) and the Diocese of Rome signed in April. The reduced rate of €2 for visitors aged 18-25 remains unchanged. Entry was free before 2023, when former Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano introduced pricing. The monument attracts 4.5 million visitors annually. Revenue is split between the ministry and the Diocese, funding maintenance, cultural activities, and charitable initiatives. The additional €2 per ticket will support struggling neighborhood libraries, as reported by Italian online daily Finestre sull'arte. Residents of Rome, minors, and those attending Mass are exempt. Originally built in the 1st century BCE under Agrippa during Augustus's reign, the Pantheon was entirely reconstructed in the 2nd century under Emperor Hadrian and converted into a church in the 7th century by Pope Boniface IV, becoming the Basilica of St. Mary and the Martyrs. Its massive dome is a masterpiece of ancient Roman architecture. The building houses the tomb of Raphael, topped by a marble Madonna and Child by Lorenzo Lotti, and the tomb of Victor Emmanuel II, first king of Italy.