Is Raphael buried in the Pantheon?

Yes—the Renaissance master Raphael was buried in the Pantheon after his death in 1520, in accordance with his wish.

Quick Answer

Yes. Raphael, one of the great masters of the Italian Renaissance, is entombed inside the Pantheon. He asked to be buried there, and his tomb helped strengthen the building’s later identity as a place of national artistic memory.

Patty's Lens

Raphael chose eternity beneath Rome’s most perfect ancient dome. It feels less like a grand gesture than a conversation between two masterpieces—one made of paint and grace, the other of concrete and light.

Raphael died in Rome in 1520 at only thirty-seven and was buried in the Pantheon, as he had requested. His tomb lies in one of the interior niches and bears a celebrated Latin epitaph praising an artist whose powers seemed to rival nature itself. The burial connects the Renaissance fascination with classical antiquity to the ancient building that inspired generations of artists and architects.

Many visitors come for the Roman dome and only then discover that one of the Renaissance’s most famous artists rests inside.

Last fact-checked: 21/09/2026

Walk around the perimeter rather than leaving after looking up. Raphael’s tomb is easy to miss when the central space is crowded.

The Pantheon is not only an ancient monument; it is also Raphael’s chosen resting place.

What to Notice

Raphael’s nameFind the name identifying the artist’s resting place.
The epitaphPause over the inscription that commemorates him.
The view back to the domeTurn from the memorial toward the architecture he admired.

Fact-Check & Sources: ROME: Keys to the Ancient City, printed pages 186–187 (PDF pages 184–185). Cross-checked 21/09/2026 against the Pantheon Basilica’s official history and audio-guide materials at pantheonroma.com. Human review by Patty pending.