Why the hill on the west bank beats everything else

The Gianicolo is the hill on the west bank of the Tiber that faces east over the entire historic center. From Piazzale Garibaldi at the top, the Pantheon, St. Peter's, and the Vittoriano are in one frame, all lit from the east at sunrise. Pincian Hill, inside Villa Borghese gardens, overlooks Piazza del Popolo to the west and catches last light on the twin domes of Santa Maria. Golden hour here is short — around 35 to 38 minutes at the summer solstice, closer to 25 in winter. The Colosseum has two faces: the east side glows at sunrise, the west side at sunset. Neither is free of tourists after 8am. The Roman Forum is locked by 7:30pm, but the views from Via Sacra over the site at the last light are exceptional.