The Roar of the Trombini,Originally trombini (aka pistoni) were serious weapons used in Italian hist

The Roar of the Trombini,Originally trombini (aka pistoni) were serious weapons used in Italian history. These huge muzzleloading muskets were mounted on palisades or ramparts they were deadly siege weapons.  Loaded with solid shot they could batter down gates and doors.  When loaded with grapeshot the made a formidable anti-personnel weapon, like a giant shotgun.  As technology progressed and the usefulness of the trombini waned, they were often put to other purposes, such as signaling the time of the day and calling monks to prayer.  Today in parts of northern Italy and Italian Switzerland the trombini is still used, commonly during holidays and festivals.  The firing of the trombini is especially popular during Easter, and there is also a famous trombini festival held in late spring or early summer.Unlike their predecessors, which were mounted, trombini today are usually fired by hand by their gunners.  This is especially dangerous considering that the huge guns were not meant to be fired in such a fashion.  In order to fire a trombini without being injured, the gunner must absorb the recoil by rotating the body 180 degrees.  Typically the trombini gunners wear colorful costumes, as well as a guard on the left leg to prevent powder burns. -- source link

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