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Every day at noon from the Gianicolo, you can witness the firing of a cannon shot. But why is this ritual repeated daily? Would you like to know why there is a cannon shot at the Gianicolo every day? There is a story behind this event which repeats itself every day…. Come to Rome and take one of our tours. We’ll stop by the Gianicolo, enjoy the view and wait for the cannon to shoot!
The Gianicolo noon cannon shot: a longstanding Roman tradition
The noon cannon shot at the Gianicolo is a ritual that both Romans and tourists should witness at least once in their lives. Do you know how this fascinating tradition began? It all started in 1847 when Pope Pius IX introduced the firing of salutes from a cannon to synchronize the ringing of bells in the churches of Rome. It was his solution to avoid the ringing of bells at different times in the city. In the beginning, the cannon was located at Castel Sant’Angelo. It was moved to Monte Mario in 1903 before reaching its current position under the statue of Garibaldi at the Gianicolo in 1904.
The cannon is fired every day at noon and when the city is less busy such as in August or on Sundays , the shot can be heard from a distance.
The cannon at the Gianicolo
Some interesting facts of the noon cannon shot tradition
As stated before, the cannon shot can be heard every day. The tradition was interrupted during World War II but was resumed in 1959. The cannon is fired at 12 sharp and today, the signal is sent by phone, but in the past, it was the responsibility of the Observatory of the Roman College. The show of the cannon shot is free, and it’s worth taking a stroll to the Gianicolo to see it. The view is absolutely amazing and from the Gianicolo, you can easily walk to Trastevere and enjoy your lunch there!
Come to Rome and take one of our Tours and ask us to take you to the Gianicolo…we are sure you’ll enjoy this Roman tradition!
Come and #feeltheessence!
