25 October 2025 , 22:12
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A Japanese tourist has died after falling from the outer wall of the Pantheon in Rome.
The man, 69, had been sitting on the wall before he plunged 7 meters into the ancient landmark’s moat on Friday night, the Italian news agency, Ansa, reported.
Rescuers had to force open a gate on the Via della Palombella outside the Pantheon in order to reach the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Rome police have opened an investigation.
According to reports in the Italian press on Saturday, the man was visiting Rome with his daughter, who told police he fell after being overcome by a sudden illness, causing him to lose his balance.
The wall is often packed with tourists taking a break from sightseeing.
The Pantheon, which was built by Roman emperor Hadrian and is famous for its oculus – the hole in its giant dome – is one of Italy’s most visited monuments.
Entrance was free until 2023, when a ticketing system was introduced. The €5 fee was controversial at the time, but it did nothing to deter tourists, with more than 4 million visiting the site in 2024. Long queues often form in Piazza della Rotonda outside the monument.
It is not the only tragedy to have struck tourists in Rome this year. In March, a 55-year-old woman from Spain died after falling from a high wall at the side of the Spanish Steps.
In April, Grant Paterson, a tourist from Scotland, died after suffering severe burns in a suspected gas explosion at a building in Rome where he was staying in rented accommodation.
Paterson, 54, had arrived in the city a few days before the incident on a solo trip, visiting sites including the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and the Colosseum.
There has been a boom in visitor numbers to Rome since the coronavirus pandemic, with a new record of 22.2 million arrivals set in 2024.
Politics Editor