The famed Pantheon in Rome, Italy, will soon start charging visitors admission, according to published reports.
“We just have to work out where to put the ticket office,” The Local quoted Italian Culture Minister Dario Franceschini as saying.
According to the report, the entrance fee is not expected to be more than “a few euros.” The new admission charge is likely to start next year, and proceeds should help pay for upkeep.
Completed in 126, the Pantheon was built as a temple to the ancient Roman gods and has it all — from columns to marble to monuments. The edifice is considered by many to be the glory of Rome and a testament to Rome’s grandeur and illustrious past and is one of the more popular sights in the Eternal City.
The Pantheon was said to be the largest free-standing dome in the world until the beginning of the 20th century.