Sunday, June 5, 2011

Postcard from the Pantheon

Two thousand years old and yet it's the most impressive dome I've ever seen. Yes, I've visited the one in London; so the standard was set fairly low! The fact the Pantheon in Rome is still standing and looks so fresh is a wonder in itself even before you get round to realising how nice it is in there.

It just shouldn't work. The only light comes through that hole in the roof, and that hole in the roof lets in rain. Any architect proposing the design would be deemed insane. Inside though, it's fresh, calm and beautiful.

These days it's a Catholic church and there are some altars and tombs of significance. All I could do however was look up.

6 comments:

Lexi said...

Lovely - but what do they do about the rain?

Katharine D'Souza said...

I think there's a clever underfloor drainage system to take the water away. Would love to have been inside when it rained to see the effect. Not complaining about sunny days while on holiday though...
K

Lexi said...

Could you not have improvised - a climbing friend with a bucket of water while you waited beneath?

Katharine D'Souza said...

Good plan! Am on the next plane to Rome to try it out.

K

Timberati said...

Good! I too wish to know about the rain in the room.

Katharine D'Souza said...

Sadly all I can report on today is how things look when it rains in England: grey.

K