Janiculum Hill in Rome

We went there last May for the same reason. The views are very nice, but not what I would call spectacular. It's a little run down, at least the parts that we wandered around in, but it's definitely where the locals go to hang out. Not many tourists.

The canon shot does take place at noon daily. The view is spectacular. We walked down to Piaza Santa Maria in Trastevere after the canon shot and had lunch there. There is an electric bus that makes the trip - I think the 115. If you haven't been to the church on the piaza (Santa Maria in Trastevere)it is well worth a visit also.

I don't know about the cannon shot. But we too wanted
to visit somewhere new on our last visit to Rome. We walked up to the top on a sunny Sunday afternoon( you can take a bus) and the view was spectacular. I would not recommend it for someone who has not seen all of the major sights and would miss them if they choose this but for something new this is great.
I would go.

The cannon shot was put in place by Pope Pius IX who introduced the custom of publicly announcing mid-day throughout the city by the firing of a cannon. It started way back on December 1st 1846, but at that time the cannon was fired every day at 12 o'clock from the top of Sant'Angelo Castle to make sure all clocks (and church bells) stayed on the same time. Nowadays it's been moved up to the Janiculum,

You can ride the 970 or the 115 bus up to the top of the hill... although the 115 will continue onto Trastevere from near the Vatican.

It's an area with great views and a spot in the summer where Italian families go for the merry-go-round, and park areas.

Thank you all for the comments. A visit to Janiculum Hill is on our list.

The one sour note from our visit to the Janiculum was the street vendors who were selling these annoying loud motion-sensitive toys laid out on the ground all around the area where you want to get the good views. Walk toward the view and these toys all start blaring and screaming at you. Frustrating, to say the least.

We walked up the hill and took the bus back down. It was energy that could have been better spent (if you go, take the bus both ways!). I have been to Rome about 5 or 6 times, and I would place this adventure as one of the few things I did in Rome that I wish I hadn't. Your time would be better spent elsewhere in my opinion. I love old churches -- and I guess I'd visit a few more before going to Giancolo. Breathtaking is an overstatement. The view from the cupola at St. Peter's is breathtaking, not Giancolo!

The street vendors can be annoying. We were last in Rome eighteen months ago and the vendors were very aggressive around Navonna--scarves were pushed. It is a shame they were not attractive or I may have considered buying one.

Another great spot for amazing views of the city is the Orange Garden on the Aventine Hill. Truly spectacular, especially at sunset.

We stayed at a convent halfway up the Via Gianicolo (Sisters of Dorotea) and would walk up the Janiculum in the evenings after dinner. We'd sit outside at cafe tables with a Gelato and an expresso, talking about what we saw that day and looking out over the lights of the city. One of my best memories of Rome.

If I was staying nowhere near the hill I wouldn't bother going mid-day. Too many other sights to see.

I recently did a great walk from St Peters, along the top of the hill, and down to Trastevere. It was a walk suggested in a British book, put out, I think, by their Automobile Club. Great view, and all of the points of interest well described.