Another must see for those who visit Rome.
The Spanish Steps climb a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, dominated by the Trinità dei Monti church at the top.
The monumental stairway of 135 steps was built with French diplomat Étienne Gueffier’s bequeathed funds of 20,000 scudi, in 1723–1725, linking the Bourbon Spanish Embassy, and the Trinità dei Monti church that was under the patronage of the Bourbon kings of France.
I visited here years ago when I came to Rome. I couldn’t visit the church because it was undergoing restoration works. I wasn’t able to visit this time either because we had no time.
There is an early Baroque fountain called Fontana della Barcaccia ("Fountain of the ugly Boat"), built in 1627–29 in the middle of the piazza (not shown) and often credited to Pietro Bernini, father of a more famous son, Gian Lorenzo Bernini. At the corner on the right as one begins to climb the steps, is the house where English poet John Keats lived and died in 1821; it is now a museum dedicated to his memory.
Many thanks for all your views, comments and favs. Always much appreciated.
I sat on those steps to recover in the Winter sunshine after I had just been mugged by the gypsy kid gangs! Got all my stuff back thanks to the speedy help of some African leather sellers nearby, but I still remember how good it felt to settle down, sitting in the sunshine after the shock on these lovely steps. They became one of my favourite places in Rome. Love your history up there too, always so interesting.
In 2004 we watched these gypsy gangs at work right by the Colosseum! They tackled a man trying to take his camera off his shoulder, the lady turned in distress to him and they took her purse. We were warned not to have anything visible on the outside of our bodies!
Wonderful information to go with your great image. One would sure get a get exercise workout going up those steps. @casablanca Scary stuff. Good to hear you got your stuff back.
@casablanca Scary stuff. Good to hear you got your stuff back.
(Often the bike roads are even colored red.)