The Pantheon & Nearby Attractions

The Pantheon stands on Piazza della Rotonda, a lively square with cafes, vendors, and great people-watching.

Where Emperors Ruled & Cats Now Reign -- At the site where it is believed that Julius Caesar was stabbed to death, right in the heart of historic Rome, you can visit the city's vast feline population. The Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary, at Largo di Torre Argentina (tel. 06-6872133; www.romancats.de), is at the intersection of via Arenula and via Florida, right off Corso Vittorio Emanuele, a short walk from the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. Where four Republican-era temples dating from 200 to 300 B.C. once stood, today some 300 abandoned house cats are cared for by a group of volunteers. Cats in all shapes and sizes are everywhere, craving human attention. Some of them find homes with visitors from around the world. The attraction can be visited daily from noon to 6pm (until 8pm in summer). The cats will be waiting.