The Timegun in Rome
On weekends, crowds of children and tourists gather by the famous balcony on top of the hill, excitedly awaiting for the cannon to be rolled out: on a small terrace below, just in front of the breath-taking view over the city, three soldiers ritually load a howitzer, and after a short countdown they fire a blank shot, at 12 o'clock sharp.
The blast is so loud that it can be clearly heard throughout the centre of Rome (despite nowadays the heavy traffic may sometimes cover it): many romans still check their watches to the sound of the peculiar "time alarm" from the Janiculum.
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