Who Is Buried in the Pantheon?

Why is Raphael buried in the Pantheon?

The most famous occupant. Raphael Sanzio, painter of the Vatican Stanze, died in 1520 and was buried in the Pantheon at his own wish. His tomb is an ancient sarcophagus set beneath the statue of the Madonna del Sasso, carved by Lorenzetto to Raphael's own commission, with a Latin epitaph by Cardinal Pietro Bembo. Alongside him lies Maria Bibbiena, his fiancée, who died shortly before him. See our dedicated Raphael's tomb guide.

Which Italian kings are buried in the Pantheon?

Vittorio Emanuele II (1820–1878), first king of unified Italy, lies in a large bronze and porphyry monument in the chapel to the right of the apse. Umberto I (1844–1900), his son and successor, was assassinated in 1900 and is buried in the chapel opposite, to the left of the apse. Their presence gives the basilica a secondary role as a royal mausoleum and national memorial, but no formal status as Italy's national pantheon.

Where is Queen Margherita buried?

Margherita of Savoy, wife of Umberto I and the first queen of unified Italy, is buried alongside her husband. She is the queen the pizza Margherita is traditionally said to be named after, in a Naples story from 1889 — a popular account that food historians regard as legend rather than documented history.

Which other artists are buried in the Pantheon?

Burial in the Pantheon became a mark of distinction for artists from the sixteenth century onwards. The best-attested: Look for these features during your visit, while respecting any areas reserved for worship.

• Baldassare Peruzzi (1481–1536) — architect and painter, succeeded Raphael on the works at St Peter's.
• Perin del Vaga (1501–1547) — pupil of Raphael; frescoes at Castel Sant'Angelo.
• Taddeo Zuccari (1529–1566) — Mannerist painter, buried near Raphael.
• Annibale Carracci (1560–1609) — Bolognese painter of the early Baroque, of the Palazzo Farnese gallery.
• Arcangelo Corelli (1653–1713) — Baroque composer and violinist.
• Maria Bibbiena (d. 1520) — Raphael's fiancée, buried beside him.

Other figures, including Flaminio Vacca, Giovanni da Udine and Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola, are also associated with Pantheon burials or memorials. Because published inventories differ, consult the basilica's documentation when researching a specific figure.

What martyrs’ relics are kept in the Pantheon?

When the building was consecrated in 609, relics of Christian martyrs were brought from the suburban catacombs — which is why the church is dedicated ad Martyres. The familiar detail of "28 wagonloads" of remains comes from medieval tradition rather than contemporary record. The traditional account places the relics beneath or near the high altar; nothing more precise than that is verifiable to a visitor.

Who guards the royal tombs in the Pantheon?

You may see volunteers in dark uniform standing beside the royal tombs. They belong to the Istituto Nazionale per la Guardia d'Onore alle Reali Tombe del Pantheon, founded in 1878, and serve unpaid in rotation. Their presence is a long-standing tradition rather than a guaranteed fixture at every hour of every visiting day.

How can you find the Pantheon’s tombs?

Enter through the bronze doors and work clockwise, keeping the wall on your left. Moving round that way you pass the chapels and niches on the left-hand side of the rotunda, including Raphael's tomb, before reaching the apse with the high altar. The chapel to the right of the apse holds Vittorio Emanuele II; the chapel to the left of the apse holds Umberto I and Margherita. Continue round past the remaining artists' monuments back to the entrance. For a full interior walkthrough see what to see inside the Pantheon.

All of this is included with normal tourist admission (€7 for adults; free for all visitors under 18, regardless of nationality — bring proof of age). Entry for a service is for worship and is not a way to sightsee.

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
• Italian Ministry of Culture — Pantheon institutional page
• Basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres — official liturgical life and Mass schedule
• 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is buried in the Pantheon?

The best-documented burials are Raphael (1520) and his fiancée Maria Bibbiena, the architect Baldassare Peruzzi, the painters Annibale Carracci, Perin del Vaga and Taddeo Zuccari, the composer Arcangelo Corelli, and the royals Vittorio Emanuele II (1878), Umberto I (1900) and Queen Margherita (1926). Other names are associated with the basilica through memorials rather than confirmed graves.

Where is Raphael's tomb in the Pantheon?

In one of the chapels on the left-hand side as you walk clockwise from the entrance. It is marked by Lorenzetto's statue of the Madonna del Sasso above the ancient sarcophagus, with Pietro Bembo's Latin epitaph: 'Ille hic est Raffael, timuit quo sospite vinci, rerum magna parens, et moriente, mori.'

Why are Italian kings buried in the Pantheon?

After unification the new monarchy wanted a burial place in Rome that signalled continuity with antiquity and the legitimacy of the new state. The Pantheon, already the most prestigious surviving ancient building and an active basilica, served that purpose. It is a royal mausoleum and national memorial in practice, not a formal national pantheon by statute.

Is there a tomb for Raphael's fiancée?

Yes. Maria Bibbiena, who died shortly before Raphael in 1520, is buried beside him. They were never married. For sightseeing, this is part of the Pantheon interior rather than a separately ticketed attraction. The building remains an active church, so worship can affect sightseeing access.

Can you visit Raphael's tomb?

Yes, it is included with normal paid tourist admission — currently €7 for adults, with the usual free categories. It is roped off but clearly visible. For sightseeing, this is part of the Pantheon interior rather than a separately ticketed attraction.