About The Spanish Steps

(in Italian) Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti

Introduction

The Spanish Steps (Italian: Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti) is a set of steps in Rome, Italy, climbing a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, dominated by Trinità dei Monti, the church that was under the patronage of the Bourbon kings of France, above. The Scalinata is "without a doubt the longest and widest staircase in all Europe".

History

After years of heated debate about how to join the Pincio with the Piazza di Spgna, The Spanish Steps were finally completed in 1717 - designed by Francesco de Sanctis. The steps have been restored many times throughout their history, most recently in 1995.

Atmosphere

The Spanish Steps - During Christmas a 19th-century nativity scene is displayed on the first landing of the staircase. During Spring, an abundance of pink azaleas are places down the centre of the steps.

Piazza di Spagna - This beautiful and elegant area of Rome is pumping daily with people, designer stores and upmarket bars and restaurants.Piazza di Spagna is found just south of Villa Borghese park, midway between Piazza Barberini and Piazza del Popolo and just off the Via del Corso, Rome's main shopping street.The area is a very upmarket residential area, inhabited by Roman families who live there seemingly oblivious to the tourism and enjoying life - like in any regular neighborhood. Throughout the day if you divert from the main shopping streets like via Condotti and via Frattina to some of the smaller side streets you'll find the local Roman's going about their daily market shopping in one of the fruit and vegetable stalls as well as a small daily fish market. Bustling cafes such as Bar D'Angelo on via delle Croce keep the local shop keepers and charged with coffee and wonderful snack all day long while the various traditional trattorie and pizzerie along with some of Romes most exclusive restaurants keep both the locals and tourists more than satisfied with their wonderful Roman cuisine.

Transport

Metro: There is a metro station just outside the Spanish Steps from which you can reach Rome's main train station "Roma Termini". For a metro map, bus map and train information check out our Rome transport guide.

Bus: The bus station of Piazza San Silvestro is a 5 minute walk from The Spanish Steps and you'll find buses to take you to just about any part of Rome. Not only the regular buses but also there are several electric buses that have routes through the the Spanish Steps area.

Taxi: There are two cab ranks in Piazza di Spagna itself one at either end as well as one in Piazza del Popolo near to the Hotel di Russie and a third that sits off via del Corso between the Fendi and Benneton buidings.

Car: Information on keeping your rental car in Rome

Odd spot ...

13 June 2007, Drunk Driver Mistakes the Spanish Steps for a Road

A 24-year-old Colombian man, mistook the Spanish Steps for a street early Wednesday morning, and drove half way down the steps, after he realized his mistake, the man tried to push it back up the steps with help from bystanders who are always, when efforts to push the car back to the top proved too difficult, the man and his helpers tried to ease the car to the bottom. The police eventually arrived and arrested the man for drunk driving. Similar incidents occured in '63 and '03 and of course in the famous scene in the film The Italian Job.
17 January 2008, 1/2 a million colored balls bounce down the Spanish Steps

TV cameras filmed half a million colored balls cascading down Rome's 18th Century - Spanish Steps, in the most recent stunt by the man who dyed the waters of the Trevi Fountain red, Graziano Cecchini The balls rolled down the steps into the boat-shaped Barcaccia fountain in Piazza di Spagna below in a spectacle that stunned passers-by, who snapped photos and scooped up the balls as souvenirs. The municiple police briefly cordon off the area whilst th street cleaners shoveled the balls into garbage trucks while Mr Cecchini and his three accomplices were arrested once again.
Watch the Video of the balls bouncing down the Spanish Steps