The Spanish Steps - A Beautiful Terraced Staircase in Rome

The Spanish Steps of Rome are notable for being the longest, widest set of stairs on the European continent. They climb the steep hill between the Piazza di Spagna, one of Renaissance Rome's most popular piazzas, and the Piaza Trinita dei Monti, named for the Church located nearby.

The hundred and thirty eight steps of this enormous stairway date from the early eighteenth century, and were the culmination of a long discussion about how to urbanize this hill, once a wooded slope. You can still see the original appearance of the area where the Spanish Steps are now located in a 1683 painting in the National Gallery of Rome.

The original funds for the steps came from donations by a French diplomat, and the construction linked the Holy See and the Bourboun Spanish Embassy, located in the Piazza di Spagna below. There are still many interesting landmarks and attractions in the Piazza today.

This Piazza is shaped like a butterfly, and notable for its beautiful early Baroque period fountain, said to have been designed by Pietro Bernini, father of the more famous Baroque architect, and then architect to the Pope. This fountain is referred to as the Fountain of the Old Boat, and features a carving of a damaged boat that is said to have been inspired by one washed up in a flood some years before.

Artists, writers, and others have been attracted to the Piazza di Spagna for hundreds of years, and during the Renaissance period, this area was home to many, as well as the location of many fine hotels and other establishments. It also housed John Keats, the English poet, until his death in 1821, and that building is now a museum dedicated to Keats and his work. The palace of the cardinal Lorenzo Cybo de Mari is also located in this piazza.

The Steps themselves were designed as the culmination of a 1717 competition, by Francesco de Sanctis, then a little known architect. The design of the stair in this location had been the subject of arguments since the sixteenth century, but the final choice was similar to terraced garden stairways, and is an elaborate and beautiful work that has attracted a lot of attention.

You'll see a lot of people on the Steps on a daily basis. Though Roman law forbids eating lunch here, that doesn't stop people from spending a lot of time on the Spanish Steps, and even from holding a small cut flower market. The city places potted azaleas on the Steps in May, and a nineteenth century cradle on the first landing during Christmas time.

Anyone planning to take a trip to Rome on holiday should take the time to check out the Spanish Steps and the related attractions. This neighborhood is an excellent place for people who want to stay in Rome apartments, too. They're an excellent alternative to staying in a hotel, and this area is a great choice for people who want to see the sights and have fun in Rome.