The Fontana della Barcaccia represents a sinking boat, inspired by the discovery of a small vessel left in the square after the 1598 Tiber flood.
The staircase was financed by the French diplomat Étienne Gueffier to improve access between the Spanish-owned square and the French-owned church at the top.
John Keats lived and died in the house to the right of the steps, which now serves as the Keats-Shelley Memorial House.
The square traditionally hosts an annual spring display of azaleas on the steps, covering the structure in seasonal blooms.
The obelisk at the top of the stairs, the Sallustiano Obelisk, is a Roman imitation of an Egyptian obelisk featuring hieroglyphics copied from the Flaminio Obelisk.
Lord Byron and other members of the Romantic movement were frequent visitors to the area during their Grand Tours.
The square marks the starting point of Via dei Condotti, one of the most famous luxury shopping streets in the world.
In 1986, the first McDonald's in Italy opened near the square, sparking significant protests regarding the preservation of Roman culinary culture.
Piazza di Spagna is a world-renowned urban square in central Rome, dominated by the 135-step Trinità dei Monti staircase. The piazza is named after the Palazzo di Spagna, which houses the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See. At the base of the stairs lies the Fontana della Barcaccia, a Baroque fountain designed by Pietro Bernini and his son Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The square serves as the convergence point of Via dei Condotti, Via del Babuino, and Via di Propaganda. The 18th-century staircase connects the piazza to the Trinità dei Monti church located on the Pincio Hill. It remains a historical hub for international diplomacy and Italian high fashion, situated at the southern end of the Trident complex.
From the bottom of the steps looking up towards the Trinità dei Monti church during the golden hour.
Visit the Keats-Shelley House museum for a quiet perspective on the literary history of the area.
Use the side paths on the Pincio Hill to find less crowded viewpoints of the square from above.
Avoid sitting or eating on the steps themselves to comply with local preservation ordinances.
Avoid purchasing overpriced souvenirs from street vendors stationed in the square; these are rarely authentic to Roman craftsmanship.
Sitting, eating, or drinking on the Spanish Steps is prohibited by municipal law; violators face fines.
