Pantheon, Coliseum to open late nights

Italy’s Culture Ministry and Tourism Ministry have extended evening hours at two of Rome’s busiest landmarks through August as a heatwave pushes temperatures toward 40 degrees Celsius. The Pantheon will stay open from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. from August 1 to August 31, except Thursdays, according to the Rome national museums directorate. The Colosseum is also running added evening access in August through its official ticketing system, alongside existing night-visit products. Officials said the initiative is meant to give visitors cooler hours and spread crowds across the day. ### So what exactly changed at the Pantheon? The Pantheon’s official site says the monument is adding special evening openings from August 1 through August 31, except on Thursdays, with access from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The site says the on-site ticket office stays open until 10 p.m., while last admission and online ticket sales run until 10:30 p.m. The Rome museums directorate said the Pantheon will host 27 evening openings under the initiative — 21 on weekdays and six on holidays, including August 15, the Ferragosto holiday, and the Sundays of August 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30. (aol.com) On the first Sunday of the month, evening admission is free and tickets can be collected on site without a reservation. ### What are the Pantheon ticket rules now? (direzionemuseiroma.cultura.gov.it) Pantheon officials say evening tickets can be bought through the Musei Italiani app and platform or at the monument’s ticket office. The current full-price ticket is 7 euros, with a 2-euro reduced ticket for European Union citizens aged 18 to 25, and free entry for visitors under 18 and residents of the Municipality of Rome. The same Pantheon notice says opening hours can still change during religious celebrations, because the building also functions as the Basilica of Santa Maria ad Martyres. (direzionemuseiroma.cultura.gov.it) During Mass, entry is free for worship, and ticket sales are suspended one hour before liturgical activity. ### Is the Colosseum doing the same thing? AOL, citing the August initiative, reported that the Colosseum’s hours are being extended on Fridays and Saturdays from 7:45 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. (direzionemuseiroma.cultura.gov.it) The report said the broader program covers the Colosseum, the Pantheon and Milan’s Sforza Castle. The Colosseum’s official ticketing site separately lists “A Night at the Colosseum,” a 60-minute guided evening tour on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., with last admission at 9:50 p.m. (direzionemuseiroma.cultura.gov.it) That product requires a reserved ticket for every visitor and goes on sale seven days in advance. The main Colosseum ticketing portal says online purchases must be made through its official website, and it warns against unauthorized resale channels. (aol.com) The site also says named tickets can be changed only once and only up to midnight on the seventh day before the visit, in limited cases. ### Why are officials pushing visits into the evening? Italy’s health ministry placed all major Italian cities on its highest heat alert for Thursday, August 6, AOL reported, as the country’s fourth heatwave intensified and temperatures were forecast to approach 40C. (ticketing.colosseo.it) The August openings were launched by the Culture and Tourism ministries as part of a broader effort to keep major monuments and museums open up to four hours longer. (ticketing.colosseo.it) Tourism Minister Gianmarco Mazzi said the plan was the “result of discussions with tour guides and industry professionals,” according to AOL. Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli said the evening hours would also let visitors experience the sites in a different setting. ### What should visitors do before they go? The Pantheon’s official page says to use the Musei Italiani platform or app for evening tickets and to watch last-entry times, especially for late slots. (aol.com) The Colosseum’s official ticketing site says reserved tickets are required for night visits and that availability opens only seven days in advance for at least some evening products. August 15 and the remaining Sundays in August are among the named dates already flagged on the Pantheon side, while Colosseum visitors should monitor the official calendar for specific evening inventory. Both sites are operating under August schedules that can differ from standard daytime hours. (direzionemuseiroma.cultura.gov.it 1) (direzionemuseiroma.cultura.gov.it 2)