How was the basilica of San Francesco di Paola modeled after Rome’s Pantheon?

The basilica of San Francesco di Paola in Naples was modeled after Rome’s Pantheon by adopting its iconic rotunda design.

Like the Pantheon, the basilica features a large circular structure topped by a massive dome. The design mimics the Pantheon's classical aesthetic, which includes a prominent front porch supported by columns and a pediment, echoing the Roman temple's revolutionary focus on an expansive, light-filled interior space. While the Pantheon remains a singular achievement of ancient concrete engineering, the basilica serves as a notable example of how the Pantheon’s architectural form has inspired designers for centuries.1