Every day at the same time since 1846It was the 1st of december 1846 when Pope Pio IX introduced the custom of announcing mid-day throughout the city in a rather curious way: every day at 12 o'clock a cannon shot was fired from the top of Sant'Angelo Castle striking the official time until 1903!
It was more than necessary to avoid confusion of the bells ringing at different times. In 1903 the location of the gun shooting ceremony moved to Monte Mario and one year later to the top of Janiculum, the highest spot in rome.
It was more than necessary to avoid confusion of the bells ringing at different times. In 1903 the location of the gun shooting ceremony moved to Monte Mario and one year later to the top of Janiculum, the highest spot in rome.
The daily gun-shot was stopped during the II nd World War but in 1959, on April the 21st (the day traditionally believed to be "Rome's birthday"), the ceremony was resumed. Since then, it has never been stopped again:still today, in the age of precision quartz watches, the firing of the Janiculum's gun is a popular daily event for roman people. The blast is so loud that it can be clearly heard throughtout the center of Rome, despite nowdays the heavy traffic may sometimes cover it! Many romans still check their watches to the sound of the peculiar "time alarm" from the Janiculum.A personal gift from the city of Rome for you!
