Gianicolo Hill

The Janiculum is not one of the seven hills but it is the best viewpoint, a terrace above Trastevere looking across the whole centre with the domes laid out. Since 1847 a cannon has been fired at midday, originally to synchronise the church bells of Rome, which had been ringing noon at different times; it is fired from the terrace below the Garibaldi monument and startles anyone who does not know. Busts of Garibaldi's followers line the walks, from the 1849 defence of the Roman Republic fought on this hill. Bramante's Tempietto, a small circular temple that is a landmark of Renaissance architecture, stands just below at San Pietro in Montorio.

What you actually see

• The panorama - the whole historic centre with its domes from one terrace.
• The midday cannon - fired daily since 1847 to set the city's clocks.
• The Garibaldi busts - memorials to the 1849 republic's defenders.
• Bramante's Tempietto - a small circular temple below the terrace.

When to go

Year-round; be there just before noon for the cannon. Sunset gives the best light on the city. The Tempietto has its own limited opening hours.

Honest expectations

The cannon is loud and unannounced. The walk up from Trastevere is steep. The Tempietto is often closed outside its short hours.

Nearby

Trastevere lies below; the Vatican is north.