FINALLY!

My first visit to Rome in 2004 came with a very, very, very big disappointment: I was too busy searching for a public W.C. that I ran past the Pantheon without going inside. THE PANTHEON, people. MY MOST FAVORITE ancient building yet.

So at long last, our guided tour ended at...the Pantheon.


I hugged the Pantheon this time, just so it knows how much I love it.



Imagine building this in the 2nd century, and you'll understand my obsession. After all, it was the biggest pure concrete structure until the 20th century. It was the biggest dome in the world until the 1400's. It is STILL the largest unreinforced solid concrete dome in the world. Love.



142 feet across of pure gorgeous.