Rome -- More Images -- Episode 03: Boom! The Janiculum Cannon (Il Cannone del Gianicolo)

Do you know what time it is? Boom! Firing off a cannon is a great way to mark the noon hour! The tradition started back in the 1840s when Pope Pius IX thought sporadic ringing of church bells was not an accurate way to mark the noon hour. He decided that a cannon should be fired every day at noon from the top of Castel Sant'Angelo. Later, the cannon was moved to the top of the Janiculum Hill (Gianicolo) and to this very day a cannon delivers a loud shot every single day precisely at noon (il Cannone del Gianicolo). The cannon shot is carefully synchronized with an atomic clock in Rome. I made this video over a period of three days so as to get various angles of the cannon and the actual firing of the cannon. If you visit Rome, try to be at the Janiculum Hill at noon. It is absolutely free to see the cannon and the firing of the cannon. But bring earplugs or cover your ears -- it is quite loud and you do not want to damage your ears! Boom!

[@GuySimard3AMDG]

AMAZING !!! Dear John, that's amazing; I lived for nine years in Rome, and I never knew about this "firing off a cannon". I am amazed also by the fact that Pope Pius IX had a similar state of mind as the engineers and the scientists of the NASA in being so accurate regarding precision in time. And finally, I am amazed that you made so many videos, and videos so well done, on the city of Rome without me being aware of that or me forgetting that. I realized it when I saw right now all the videos of FilmFan232 on the right column of my computer screen. It really took a firing of a cannon to wake me up. We really don't know all the good or the beauty that comes out of our confreres' heart, mind and hands. Lord, have Mercy on me !

[@FilmFan232]

Thank you very much Guy. Feel free to promote all these videos with friends and others you know. And thank you for doing this.