Every church in Rome, including one of the most famous ones such as St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican, is free to visit. However, Pantheon will now be the first one to steer away from this custom. Up until now the church, which included the tombs of the first two monarchs of Italy (Vittorio Emanuele II and Umberto I), was accessible to everyone for free.
The money that will be raised is to be split between the culture ministry, receiving 70% and the Rome diocese receiving 30%, according to Independent. However, only the culture ministry is set to be responsible for the upkeep of Pantheon, with the money for diocese to be used for other churches in the area.
According to the Independent, the Italy’s Minister of Culture, Mr Sangiuliano called the new fee a “modest ticket charge for the most visited cultural site in Italy”.
Pantheon is however in a very good state and seemingly is not in need of any intense upkeep, so it seems as though the ministry simply saw and opportunity to raise money from tourists who are interested enough to pay it. Maybe if Pantheon wasn’t as popular, it would remain free.
The church is still set to be free for those attending Mass or anyone under the age of 18 as well as any residents in Rome. Turns out there is always a loophole so just show up during a Mass time and enjoy the church for free.
What I see as some advantages to the new fee are the opportunity it might present for tourists. The church has many rooms that are normally closed to the public in which seasonal exhibitions take place. These rooms could be transformed into a permanent museum showcasing some of the rich history of Pantheon and making the fee worth it. And the staff could perhaps better handle the crowds in front of the church and reduce the queue, hopefully.
Other than that, it seems like a way to tax the tourists as much as they can and nothing else, so if you are planning a visit to Rome anytime soon, make use of the free entrance because that chance will soon slip away.