Is the Pantheon a Church? What It Is Today
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Yes, the Pantheon is an active Roman Catholic basilica called Santa Maria ad Martyres, or St Mary and the Martyrs. Consecrated as a church in 609, it still hosts worship, so sightseeing visitors must respect services, dress requirements and any temporary access restrictions.
Below: how the conversion happened, what is documented and what is medieval tradition, the current Mass schedule, and what all of it means when you visit.
When did the Pantheon become a church?
On 13 May 609, Pope Boniface IV consecrated the building as Santa Maria ad Martyres, after the Byzantine emperor Phocas transferred it to the papacy. It has remained in church use since then, but broad claims comparing its continuity with every other European building are not verifiable.
Why was the Pantheon converted?
Two broad reasons. Traditional public cult had faded across the previous two centuries through a gradual sequence of imperial measures and local change, leaving a monumental building without a clear function. And the papacy was actively relocating martyrs' relics out of the suburban catacombs into churches inside the city. Medieval sources describe relics arriving at the new basilica in quantity — the familiar "28 wagonloads" figure belongs to that tradition and should be read as tradition, not record.
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Official Pantheon Tickets — Musei ItalianiSold by Italy's Ministry of Culture. €7 admission from July 2026. Any online transaction fee is shown at checkout.Musei Italiani Official SiteMusei Italiani is the official Pantheon ticket seller. Third-party products may be tours, hosted-entry products or bundled services — check the exact inclusions before booking.
TiqetsCompare advance Pantheon tickets, audio guides & combo bundlesCheck PricesKlookPantheon tickets & guided tours — cancellation varies by productCheck PricesTrip.comReward credits & frequent traveller dealsCheck PricesHotels near the PantheonStay 2 minutes from Piazza della Rotonda — compare boutique stays on Trip.com.View HotelsCompare all three providers to find the best price for your dates.How did church use help it survive?
Consecration gave the Pantheon an owner with an interest in maintaining it, at a time when most ancient Rome was being quarried for stone, marble and metal. That is the main reason the rotunda still stands roofed.
It was not, however, untouched. The emperor Constans II had the gilded bronze roof tiles stripped in the seventh century. Further removals followed over the centuries, and in the 1620s Urban VIII had the bronze of the portico ceiling taken — producing the Roman quip "Quod non fecerunt barbari, fecerunt Barberini". Where that bronze ended up is disputed: much of it is documented as going to cannon for Castel Sant'Angelo, and the popular claim that it became Bernini's baldachin in St Peter's is contested by historians.
What is the Pantheon used for today?
The Pantheon is a Roman Catholic minor basilica, officially Basilica Santa Maria ad Martyres. The building is Italian state property; tourist access is administered by the Ministry of Culture, while worship is the responsibility of the Diocese of Rome, under the management arrangement between the two in force in 2026.
It is simultaneously an active basilica, a national memorial with royal tombs, and a ticketed monument. Admission is €7 for adults — the ticket was introduced in 2023 at €5 and rose to €7 on 1 July 2026. Anyone genuinely attending the service may enter for worship free of charge; the building closes to ticketed tourist visits during Mass. On heritage status: the Pantheon stands within the UNESCO-listed Historic Centre of Rome; it is not separately inscribed as its own World Heritage Site.
Where should you check the 2026 Mass schedule?
Full practical guide: attending Mass at the Pantheon . For a sightseeing visit, check official access notices separately from the worship schedule.
- Saturday and the eve of public holidays: 17:00
- Sunday and public holidays: 10:30
- Feast days: additional services are sometimes celebrated and announced by the basilica.
- Pentecost: the rose-petal ceremony through the oculus follows the 10:30 Sunday Mass. Expect capacity limits and arrive early.
These are the only regularly scheduled Masses. Extra services on feast days are announced by the basilica and are not fixed year to year — always re-check the official liturgical schedule shortly before you visit. Full practical guide: attending Mass at the Pantheon.
Is the Pantheon still a pagan temple?
No. The interior you see is a Christian one: altars, chapels, saints and a much-venerated early icon of the Virgin. What stood in the niches in antiquity is not documented, so the neat story of specific pagan gods being swapped one-for-one for Christian saints is a modern simplification. The Roman past survives in the structure, the columns and the name.
Whose tombs are inside the church?
The interior holds the high altar and chapels of the basilica, the tomb of Raphael, monuments to other artists and architects, and the tombs of King Vittorio Emanuele II, King Umberto I and Queen Margherita of Savoy. See who is buried in the Pantheon.
How should you visit a working church?
For a sightseeing visit, check official access notices separately from the worship schedule. Mass attendance is free, but it does not include sightseeing, and visitors should respect the congregation and liturgical areas.
- Dress code: shoulders and knees covered, for everyone.
- Silence: keep voices low; the building closes to tourist visits during services.
- Hats off: men remove hats inside.
- Photography: personal photos without flash are permitted during tourist hours; do not photograph during Mass. Tripods and professional equipment need permission.
- Tickets: When booking online, any additional fee is displayed at checkout. There is no separate skip-the-line product sold by the administration.
Sources and further reading
- Direzione Musei nazionali della città di Roma (Ministry of Culture) — official Pantheon page: hours, tickets and access
- Ministry of Culture — official Pantheon tariff notice (€7 full price effective 1 July 2026) and free-entry categories
- Basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres — official liturgical life and Mass schedule
- Italian Ministry of Culture — Pantheon institutional page
- Turismo Roma — official city tourism information
Facts on this page last checked: August 2026. Prices, opening hours and transport routes in Rome change — always confirm with the official source before your visit.
Planning to go inside? Standard adult admission is €7 from 1 July 2026, and under-18s enter free — see our Pantheon ticket guide for official booking, free-entry days and what each ticket includes.
For a sightseeing visit, check official access notices separately from the worship schedule. Mass attendance is free, but it does not include sightseeing, and visitors should respect the congregation and liturgical areas.
Adult sightseeing admission is €7 from 1 July 2026 (€5 from July 2023). Under-18s and first-Sunday visitors enter free; Mass attendance is free for worship, not sightseeing. Use Musei Italiani as the official seller and our Pantheon ticket guide to distinguish admission from optional extras.
Continue reading about the Pantheon
Pantheon RomeWhat Was the Pantheon Used For?
From Roman temple to basilica to royal mausoleum across 1,900 years.
Pantheon RomeCan You Attend Mass at the Pantheon?
Mass times, dress code, and how Catholics enter free of charge.
Pantheon RomeWho Is Buried in the Pantheon?
Raphael, two Italian kings, Queen Margherita and the Renaissance artists.
Pantheon RomeWhat Happened to the Original Pantheon?
Three Pantheons, two fires and one survivor — the story of all three.
Frequently Asked Questions
What religion is the Pantheon today?
Roman Catholic. It has been the consecrated basilica of Santa Maria ad Martyres since 609. For a sightseeing visit, check official access notices separately from the worship schedule. Mass attendance is free, but it does not include sightseeing, and visitors should respect the congregation and liturgical areas.
Is the Pantheon still a church?
Yes, it is an active basilica. The regular schedule is a vigil Mass on Saturday and the eve of public holidays at 17:00, and Mass on Sunday and public holidays at 10:30, plus occasional feast-day and life-event services. For a sightseeing visit, check official access notices separately from the worship schedule.
When did the Pantheon become a church?
On 13 May 609, when Pope Boniface IV consecrated it after the Byzantine emperor Phocas transferred the building to the papacy. For a sightseeing visit, check official access notices separately from the worship schedule. Mass attendance is free, but it does not include sightseeing, and visitors should respect the congregation and liturgical areas.
Who manages the Pantheon today?
The building is Italian state property. Tourist access is managed by the Ministry of Culture, while worship is the responsibility of the Diocese of Rome; the two operate under a management arrangement in force in 2026. For a sightseeing visit, check official access notices separately from the worship schedule.
Why is it dedicated to martyrs?
Medieval tradition records that relics of martyrs were brought from the catacombs when the church was consecrated — the well-known figure of 28 wagonloads comes from that tradition rather than from contemporary documentation. The dedication 'ad Martyres' commemorates them. For a sightseeing visit, check official access notices separately from the worship schedule.
Can non-Catholics enter the Pantheon?
Yes. Anyone can visit as a ticketed tourist, and anyone genuinely attending a service may enter for worship. The dress code applies either way. For a sightseeing visit, check official access notices separately from the worship schedule. Mass attendance is free, but it does not include sightseeing, and visitors should respect the congregation and liturgical areas.