Today, 20 June, is the summer solstice, the day on which the sun reaches its highest point in the sky. And, there’s no better day to visit the Pantheon–especially if you can manage to get there between 12pm and 1pm, when the sun’s position peaks.
Between 12pm and 1pm, the disk of sun thrown by the oculus in the Pantheon’s dome lands flat on the building’s marble pavement, creating a brilliant circle of light on the floor in front of the door. It’s an effect one sees in only in the summer–for most of the year, the disk of light never hits the ground at all.
Our trusty photographer, Susan Sanders, has a bit of an obsession with the Pantheon. We might even go so far as to say that she lives for the summer solstice and the moment when that gorgeous circle of light makes its way onto the building’s pavement. And so, this weekend, we bring you a two-part photo celebration of the Pantheon.
We begin today with view upward–we’re showcasing Susan’s photos of the building’s beautiful (and newly cleaned) concrete dome and the brilliantly lit oculus. Tomorrow we’ll move on to the floor itself with photos of the ever moving disk of light that so enlivens this ancient temple. So, enjoy today’s photos. Check in tomorrow for more. And in the meantime, take a spin through Susan’s other fabulous photos of Rome at her photo blog: Rome With A View.
