Visitors to the Pantheon – one of the best-preserved monuments in the world will be charged to pay a €5 entry fee starting this week, the Italian tourism Minister has announced.
According to Skift, the former temple attracts millions of tourists every year and has earned the name of one of the most visited tourist attractions in Italy, MonteOzLive.com reports.
The introduction of the €5 entry fee is part of a national initiative to generate more revenues from the country’s cultural assets, as the Tourism Ministry has set a goal of 70 per cent of the revenues to be allocated for covering cleaning and maintenance, while the rest is anticipated to be distributed to the diocese of Rome. Worshippers during religious services are exempted from paying an entry fee.
The Pantheon’s current six-metre thick walls are surviving time since A.D.117, making this attraction the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. It survived the Barbarian attack before being transformed into a Christian church.
“If it’s going to stay for another 2,000 (years), they need some money,” German tourist Karsten Kohler said on Friday while waiting for one of the last free tickets on offer.
Visiting the Pantheon, which is a must-see attraction in Rome, was a free-of-charge spot before the Tourism Ministry introduced the entry fee, while other monuments and attractions all charge for entry.
According to RomeSite, one attraction that people should not skip is the Colesseum – the large amphitheatre that used to have a capacity of 65,000 spectators in Roman times. However, the price for visiting the site can be very high – varying between €35 and €97 for audio guides in multiple languages.
St.Peter’s Basilica should also be a site not to miss, as it is an important attraction for Rome, with prices varying between €39 and €49. It is always advisable to book tickets time in advance, as it can get crowded and tickets can be out of sale for visiting these attractions.
The Rome Tourist Card also offers a guided tour of the St Peter’s Basilica and Dome, as well as a City Audio Guide App of Rome.
