The romantic and mind blowing atmosphere of the famous Spanish Steps are one of the most popular sites and most visited areas in Rome.



With 138 steps of pure style and elegance, the Spanish Steps bring energy and life to this wonderful place. This area was built in the late 1700s, it attracts and is frequented by tourists and italians to live this incredible atmosphere.

The Spanish Steps in Italian are called "Scalinata". These are famous set of steps in one of the most well known areas of Rome. Despite of its name, the famous Spanish Steps were actually built by the French.

The monumental stairway, "Spanish Steps" or "Scalinata di Spagna" were built between 1723 and 1725 with French diplomat tienne Gueffier. You can easily recognize it at the Piazza di Spagna square rectangle like shape.

This place is one of the most popular tourist spots in Rome. The Scalinata is no doubt the widest and longest staircase in all Europe.

The fountain at the base of the square is called "La Fontana della Barcaccia" ("Fountain of the Old Boat"), built by Bernini in 1627-29. According to the legend, Pope Urban VIII was impressed by a boat brought here by a flood of the Tiber river and wanted to build a fountain.

Bernini is said to have used the Boat as a sign of safety from floods from the Tiber River.

Pots of beautiful "Azalea" flowers pots cover the stairs in spring (flowering shrubs are part of the genus Rhododendron and subgenus Pentanthera), this is why it's also called "Garden Stairs" from Romans.

A sign that the Summer is fast approaching. The weather in Rome can get quite hot, even in the Fall. So the many cafes, shops and restaurants near the Spanish Steps are always popular full of people absorbing this fine, elegant atmosphere.

You shouldn't have lunch at the stairs, it's forbidden by Roman regulations, but nevertheless it's likely you will still see some people having a sandwich or "tramezino" (Typical Roman Sandwich) and sipping up on a cold drink when everything is calm and peaceful.

Spanish Steps is now also a meeting point and here you can take a ride in a carriage pulled by a horse. The house at the very first step to the right is where John Keats (the English Poet) lived and died in 1821.

Nowadays this is a public museum dedicated to his memory and full of memorabilia of the English Romantic generation.

Halfway up on the right is the apartment you can see the place used for The Roman Spring of Mrs Stone (1961).

Bob Dylan talks about the "Spanish Stairs" in a classic "When I Paint My Masterpiece" (1971). Perfect harmony surrounded by a baroque context for the modern terraces.

When planning a trip to Rome, make sure you visit the Spanish Steps and rent an accommodation in this area to get the best in Rome.