The Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti, better known as the Spanish Steps, comprises of a stairway with 138 steps, remarkably adorned and set in a traffic-free zone, at the very heart of Rome. It is one of the widest staircases in the whole of Europe and is a popular resting stop for both tourists and locals due to the large number of landmarks that surround it.
It connects Piazza di Spagna and the French Church of Trinita dei Monti. Through a steep slope and has been designed by architects Alessandro Specchi and Francesco de Sanctis. French diplomat Étienne Gueffier’s bequeathed funds of 20,000 scudi is what sustained this stairway financially.
A beautiful fountain called Fontana della Barcaccia or Fountain of the Old Boat is situated at the base of the Piazza di Spagna. This fountain is the product of architect Pietro Bernini’s genius and has much to add to the aesthetic beauty of the stairs as well as the piazza.
Also, for those interested in history and literature, in the piazza on the right as one begins to climb the steps, is the House of John Keats, a renowned poet. It has now been converted into a museum which displays his entire life as well as his memorabilia of the English Romantic generation.
On the same right, another monument stands – former cardinal Lorenzo Cybo de Mari’s palace, now called Ferrari di Valbona. Its baroque façade merged with modern terraces is again a sight to behold.
The steps is not just a popular tourist attraction, it also holds a lot of significance for the locals. These steps have left several marks throughout the history of Italy. During the fall of the Berlin wall a multi-media event was held on the steps that involved all the locals and led to large crowds accumulated on the steps. A number of festivals and events are also celebrated upon these steps throughout the year.
Each year during Christmas a celebration is held on these steps where a 19th-century crib is displayed. A small cut-flower market has been introduced as a part of these steps and in May, several pots of azaleas are found on these stairs.
Not only this, the steps have also featured in several music albums and movies like “Dublin Blues” by American singer-songwriter Guy Clark and Bob Dylan’s “When I Paint My Masterpiece”.