Spanish Steps

Interesting facts

1. 1

   The stairway was financed by a legacy from the French diplomat Étienne Gueffier to improve access to the church of Trinità dei Monti.

2. 2

   Despite the name 'Spanish Steps', the project was primarily funded by the French and the stairway itself is located on land owned by the French government.

3. 3

   The Fontana della Barcaccia at the base operates with low water pressure, which is why it was designed to appear partially submerged.

4. 4

   The poet John Keats lived and died in the house to the right of the steps, which is now a museum dedicated to his life and work.

5. 5

   Sitting on the steps is currently prohibited by local municipal regulations to preserve the stone structure and maintain public order.

6. 6

   The staircase is technically classified as a public pedestrian space, not a venue for gatherings or consumption of food.

Overview

The Spanish Steps are a monumental 135-step staircase linking the Piazza di Spagna at the base to the Trinità dei Monti church at the top. Constructed between 1723 and 1725, they were designed by architects Francesco de Sanctis and Alessandro Specchi to create a grand link between the Bourbon Spanish Embassy and the French-controlled church. The structure is built from travertine and features a unique butterfly-like layout with irregular terraces. At the foot of the stairs lies the Fontana della Barcaccia, a fountain designed by Pietro Bernini and his son Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The fountain is shaped like a semi-sunken boat, inspired by a flooding of the Tiber in 1598. The stairway serves as a traditional gathering place in central Rome, having been restored most recently in 2016. It is a focal point of the Baroque urban design of Rome and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Insider tips

• Visit the Keats-Shelley House located immediately to the right at the bottom of the steps for literary history.

• Explore the surrounding streets of Via dei Condotti for historical architecture and luxury storefronts.

• Use the upper viewpoint near the Obelisco Sallustiano for a panoramic perspective of the city center.