Visitors will have to pay 5 euro to
visit Rome's landmark Pantheon monument under an agreement
signed by the ministry of culture and the church's governing
body on Thursday.
The entrance fee will not apply to worshippers at the former
Roman temple, which was built by Roman statesman Marcus Agrippa
around 25 BC and consacrated as a place of Catholic worship
dedicated to Santa Maria ad Martyres in 609.
Rome residents, minors and other special categories including
disabled visitors and the people accompanying them will also be
exempt from payment, while people aged 18-25 will be able to
access the monument at a reduced price of 2 euro.
Under the agreement, 70% of the income generated through ticket
sales will go to the culture ministry, which will have
responsibility for upkeep and cleaning, and 30% to the Rome
diocese, which will use the money for charity and to maintain
and restore other state-owned churches located within its area.
The entrance fee will be enforced once technical provisions have
been made relating to ticket sales.
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