Gianicolo (Janiculum Hill)

Gianicolo (Janiculum Hill) Review

The Gianicolo is famous for offering panoramic views of the city, a noontime cannon, and statues of Giuseppe and Anita Garibaldi (Garibaldi was the guiding spirit behind the unification of Italy in the 19th century; Anita was his long-suffering wife). The view, backdropped by the first slopes of the Appenine Mountains, is especially breathtaking at dusk, when Roman lovers, camera-happy tourists, and tchotchke-selling vendors gather. Small crowd aside, it's fun to pick out Rome's finest buildings, from the Pantheon to St. Peter's—and you'll be surprised at how peaceful and pastel it all looks from up here. At the plaza here there's a free puppet show in Italian on weekends 10:30-noon and 5-7.