Why the Spanish Steps Are One of Rome’s Most Famous Landmarks

Sharing is caring!

The Spanish Steps, known in Italian as Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti, are one of Rome’s most recognisable landmarks. They rise in elegant curves from Piazza di Spagna at the base to Piazza Trinità dei Monti at the top, where the church of Trinità dei Monti stands.

Built between 1723 and 1726 and opened for the Jubilee of 1725, the staircase climbs in 11 travertine ramps of 12 steps each that divide, wind and come together again, with balustrades where you can stop and look out over the square. Before it was built, a steep, muddy slope separated Piazza di Spagna from the Pincio hill above.

Related: The Hidden World Beneath Rome’s Colosseum

Design and Architecture

Plan your visit: The Spanish Steps on Turismo Roma (official)

The Spanish Steps were designed by the Roman architect Francesco De Sanctis.

The staircase draws on earlier architectural ideas. Divided and symmetrical stairs had been created in the early 1500s by Donato Bramante for the Belvedere Courtyard. Shaped and angled steps were introduced by Michelangelo in the Laurentian Library. The Spanish Steps take these ideas and expand them into a grand, flowing design.

Decorative details reflect both French and papal influence. The Bourbon fleur-de-lys appears alongside Innocent XIII’s eagle and crown. The result is a monumental staircase that links the square below with the church above in a bold and balanced way.

Related: The Best Day Trips from Rome

Why Are They Called the Spanish Steps?

Plan your visit: Piazza di Spagna on Turismo Roma (official)

The official Italian name refers to the church at the top: Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti. The church itself was under the patronage of the Kings of France during the 18th century, and the French diplomat Étienne Gueffier left the money that paid for much of the staircase.

So why are they called the Spanish Steps?

The name comes from Piazza di Spagna at the base. In the 17th century, the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See was located in the square. Over time, the staircase took its popular name from the square rather than the church.

Related: What are the best neighborhoods to stay in Rome?

Trinità dei Monti and the View from the Top

Plan your visit: The Church of Trinità dei Monti on Turismo Roma (official)

At the top of the staircase stands the church of Trinità dei Monti, one of Rome’s five French-speaking Catholic churches. Its oldest, Gothic part was built between 1502 and 1519. Inside, six side chapels hold works such as the Deposition by Daniele da Volterra, Michelangelo’s pupil.

Outside the church stands the Sallustian Obelisk. Named after the Roman historian Sallust, it once stood in his gardens and was later placed here in 1789. From this high point, visitors can enjoy sweeping views across Rome.

From the top, you are also close to Villa Medici and the park of Villa Borghese, making this area a natural starting point for further exploration of Rome.

Piazza di Spagna and the Barcaccia Fountain

Plan your visit: The Barcaccia Fountain on Turismo Roma (official)

Want to go deeper? Explore our Italy planning guides — or get stories like this weekly in your inbox. Subscribe free →

At the base of the steps lies Piazza di Spagna. In the centre of the square is the Fontana della Barcaccia, built between 1626 and 1629.

The fountain was designed by Pietro Bernini, father of Gian Lorenzo Bernini. It takes the shape of a sinking boat and was inspired by the flood of the Tiber River in 1598, when a boat was carried into the square. Its water comes from the ancient Acqua Vergine aqueduct, which still operates today.

Piazza di Spagna is also known for shopping. Via Condotti begins here and is lined with high-end fashion boutiques.

A Meeting Place for Writers, Artists, and Fashion

Plan your visit: Keats-Shelley House on Turismo Roma (official)

For centuries, the Spanish Steps have been a gathering place. In the 18th and 19th centuries, artists and writers met here. On the right side of the steps stands the former home of English poet John Keats, who died there in 1821. Today, it is the Keats-Shelley Memorial House.

Each year, the staircase becomes part of local traditions. From about mid-April to mid-May, around 450 white and lilac azaleas grown by the city’s gardeners line the steps, a spring tradition since the 1950s. On 8 December, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, flowers are laid at the column of the Immaculate Conception nearby, and the Pope traditionally comes to pray there.

The Spanish Steps Represented in Art

Plan your visit: The Spanish Steps on Sovrintendenza Capitolina (official)

The Spanish Steps have appeared in many films and television shows. They featured in Roman Holiday (1953) and The Talented Mr Ripley (1999).

Visiting the Spanish Steps

Plan your visit: ATAC, Rome's metro and buses (official)

The Spanish Steps are free to visit and can be reached by metro at the Spagna stop on Line A. Early mornings are usually quieter, while sunny days in spring and summer can be busy.

Modest dress is required if you plan to enter Trinità dei Monti. From here, you can continue towards Villa Borghese or explore the surrounding streets.

Standing on the steps, you are at a crossroads of history, art, religion, and daily Roman life. Few places in the city bring together so many layers of the past and present in one setting.

This short video shows the scale of the Spanish Steps:

You Might Also Enjoy

• The Hidden World Beneath Rome’s Colosseum That Most Visitors Never See
• The Thousand-Year Human Story Behind Cinque Terre’s Famous Cliffs

Sharing is caring!