Spanish Steps (Scalinata)

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Piazza Di Spagna, Rome, Italy 00187

Description: I know there are a lot of reasons to visit the Spanish Steps in Rome - and many people have their own. If you're really keen to see the famous spot used in films and adds and with a certain sentimentality attached. And I suspect many people want to visit it just to say they've seen it. And I can't say that it's not impressive in it's own way. The problem is - it's so completely packed with people, tourists, and vendors that there's no real way to appreciate it.

Of all the selection of tourist spots I visited in Rome, this one I found to be the most overcrowded and with the pushiest vendors. This may have just been my own experience, and even so it was a much easier experience than I've had in other crowded cities. But it stands out in such stark contrast to our experience in the rest of Rome that it didn't really seem worth it. I have one single photo of the site so many people flock to see - and I took that as a token almost entirely for this review. I can't say I enjoyed a single moment at or near the Spanish steps - and in fact the entire area is so highly touristed that we spent what felt like an unnecessarily long part of that morning extricading ourselves out of it again. The really pricy shops are just off this square, but as it seems is always the case in Rome, just a few turns down quieter streets and the atmosphere of the city returns, and you wan wander once again and soak up what there is to see.

So - if you have an inclination to the see the steps - I'll not suggest you shouldn't go. But as all these Roman sights - get there very early or very late for the best viewing. It appears there isn't a time in Rome when there aren't a lot of tourists flocking to see them, so you're best shot is at other times of the day. But even if you do have to go at it's busiest - it will be hard to really enjoy the large set of steps in the centre of Piazza di Spagna. For us it ended up being a token visit, and we were soon pushed out of the square and were happily on our way to see the rest of the city.

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Piazza di Spagna & Via Condotti Photo - Spanish Steps (Scalinata), Rome, Italy

User Reviews

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Not worth the crowds.

by Red Mezz

Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom

January 7, 2012

Best of IgoUgo I know there are a lot of reasons to visit the Spanish Steps in Rome - and many people have their own. If you're really keen to see the famous spot used in films and adds and with a certain sentimentality attached. And I suspect many people want ...Read more I know there are a lot of reasons to visit the Spanish Steps in Rome - and many people have their own. If you're really keen to see the famous spot used in films and adds and with a certain sentimentality attached. And I suspect many people want to visit it just to say they've seen it. And I can't say that it's not impressive in it's own way. The problem is - it's so completely packed with people, tourists, and vendors that there's no real way to appreciate it.

Of all the selection of tourist spots I visited in Rome, this one I found to be the most overcrowded and with the pushiest vendors. This may have just been my own experience, and even so it was a much easier experience than I've had in other crowded cities. But it stands out in such stark contrast to our experience in the rest of Rome that it didn't really seem worth it. I have one single photo of the site so many people flock to see - and I took that as a token almost entirely for this review. I can't say I enjoyed a single moment at or near the Spanish steps - and in fact the entire area is so highly touristed that we spent what felt like an unnecessarily long part of that morning extricading ourselves out of it again. The really pricy shops are just off this square, but as it seems is always the case in Rome, just a few turns down quieter streets and the atmosphere of the city returns, and you wan wander once again and soak up what there is to see.

So - if you have an inclination to the see the steps - I'll not suggest you shouldn't go. But as all these Roman sights - get there very early or very late for the best viewing. It appears there isn't a time in Rome when there aren't a lot of tourists flocking to see them, so you're best shot is at other times of the day. But even if you do have to go at it's busiest - it will be hard to really enjoy the large set of steps in the centre of Piazza di Spagna. For us it ended up being a token visit, and we were soon pushed out of the square and were happily on our way to see the rest of the city.

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From journal The Golden, Eternal city...

The vertical area is famous, leading to the Trinity Church

by Zhebiton

Moscow, Moskva, Russia

May 22, 2011

Vertical area of Spain is famous ladder-eight, leading to the Trinity Church on the Hill, and a fountain "Keel" (Barkachcha). In the summer of stairs decorated with azaleas and released on her stage anorexic mannequins in traditional fashion ...Read more

From journal Rome is the 3rd Most Visited City in the EU

All visitors must see this

by alanmack37

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

October 25, 2010

Best of IgoUgo The Spanish Steps is a remarkable staircase of steps which was built in the 18th century for the newly formed Spanish Embassy. I visited the Spanish steps 6 years ago on a hot sunny night. I started at the top and walked down. There is a pretty ...Read more The Spanish Steps is a remarkable staircase of steps which was built in the 18th century for the newly formed Spanish Embassy. I visited the Spanish steps 6 years ago on a hot sunny night. I started at the top and walked down. There is a pretty church at the top, which i only glanced at quickly. There are so many churches in Rome that i tend to stare at the exteriors, rather than the interiors.

Rome, the Spanish steps is situated in the Piazza de Spagna, the heart of the city’s main hotel district. In the seventeenth century, the Spanish ambassador to the Holy See had his headquarters in this square, and the area around it was supposed to be Spanish territory. The Trinita dei Monti church (with a fine view of Rome) was linked to the piazza by a flight of steps, now known as the Spanish steps.

On one side is the Babington’s tea rooms, started in 1896 to cater to homesick British tourists, and a meeting place for writers and poets. It seems only fitting that on the other side of the steps is the Keats-Shelly Memorial house, where Keats lived with the painter Joseph Severn. The memorial and library houses photographs and manuscripts, including handwritten lines of Keats’ poems. One can also see the room where Keats died, though the original furniture was burnt and later replaced by copies.

At the foot of the steps is a famous baroque fountain, the Fontana della Barcaccia, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini or his father Pietro. It resembles a leaking boat; "barcaccia" means "useless old boat". It is decorated with bees and suns, borrowed from the family coat of the Pope who commissioned it.

The Spanish steps overlooks Via Condotti which has the smartest designer clothes shops, and is considered to be one of the best shopping areas in the world.

A stone’s throw away, to the left, is the Colonna dell Immacolataa Roman column supporting a statue of the Virgin Mary.

One piece of advice be alert in this area and watch your wallet. There are pickpockets and predators around. There are flower sellers and people who will try to put a bracelet on you and then follow you around until you give them money. If this happens just throw the bracelet off and say no.

I did a walking tour of this area in summer at night and there were lots of men standing round the steps. I was told that tradition has said that the most handsome of men in Rome stand by the steps. No idea if this is true.

Well recommend a visit

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From journal la dolce vita in roma

Piazza di Spagna

by Zhebiton

Moscow, Moskva, Russia

July 20, 2010

In the center is a lovely fountain - a work of Pietro Bernini, father of the famous Lorenzo Bernini. Out of half a boat hits another stream of water. And all this is in the water, below the square. From the fountain up to the church of Santa Trinita ...Read more

From journal Rome is the 3rd Most Visited City in the EU

Meeting Place for All of Rome

by AnythngArt

Rockford, Illinois

March 8, 2010

Best of IgoUgo There are few more memorable places in Rome than the Spanish Steps. On a typical day in Rome, the stairs will be lined with tourists and locals enjoying the day, people watching, trying to see and be seen. The Spanish Steps is a common meeting ...Read more

The Regal Spanish Steps

by Praskipark

Warsaw, Poland

January 19, 2009

Best of IgoUgo Piazza di Spagna--------------------------This was the first port of call on our first day of sightseeing. Very easy to find and within walking distance from the hotel. The architecture in this area is really striking and it is very popular, ...Read more Piazza di Spagna
--------------------------

This was the first port of call on our first day of sightseeing. Very easy to find and within walking distance from the hotel. The architecture in this area is really striking and it is very popular, bustling with life and street performers. Visitors from all over the world come to admire the twelve flights of travertine steps leading up to the Church of Trinita dei Monti. The steps are of varying widths. If you don't wish to climb the steps there is a lift outside of the Metro station.

The piazza owes its name to the Spanish Embassy which was permanently established in Rome in 1647. The square was completed with the building of the steps in 1725 by the famous Italian architect Francesco de Santis.

In the piazza at the bottom of the steps is a 17th century Fontana della Barcaccia, (Fountain of the Old boat). This fountain marks the place where an old barge came afloat when the River Tiber overflowed.

In the 18th and 19th centuries the area around the Spanish steps was a famous visiting point for wealthy travellers making the Grand Tour of Europe.

At the time this area was frequented by wealthy English visitors who made it their home and also poor artists and writers lived in this area. The area was so called 'Er ghetto de I'inglesi which when translated means the English Ghetto.

I certainly felt that this area had a Bohemian feel to it.
The dusty pink and yellow ochre buildings standing on either side of the steps make a great contrast with the stark white backdrop of the beautiful church. If you take a walk on the Via Condotti you will see the Café Greco which was built in 1760. The décor inside is very elegant with paintings and original documents belonging to some of it's famous visitors throughout time like; Keats, Byron, Liszt, Buffalo Bill and Stendhal to name but a few.

The Via Condotti is a great street for designer shopping and taking in the view of the steps leading up to the famous church of Trinita dei Monti.

At the end of the steps stands the church of Trinita dei Monti. It is Franciscan and was built by Carlo Maderno and Domenico Fontana. It is a very pretty church and when looking down at the steps I imagined a Spanish aristocratic wedding. The setting is perfect. I have always been a great fan of poetry and when I was a youngster loved Keats and Shelley and this is one of the reasons I wanted to visit this area of Rome as there is a museum which actually was the home of both these poets. It is situated in the palazzio to the right of the steps.
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From journal Six Days in Eternity

Piazza di Spagna

by fionademp

London, United Kingdom

June 6, 2008

Piazza di Spagna We stayed in this area and I’d really recommend it as a place to stay. The tube makes it easy to get around and it’s lively at night, without being too busy. The Spanish steps are the main focus of the Piazza. I’ll be honest I ...Read more

From journal Rome in September

Spanish Steps to the Vatican

by Wasatch

heber ctity, Utah

August 12, 2007

Best of IgoUgo We bought an all-day transit pass at a news stand 1½ blocks from our hotel, I took a bus to the Coliseum Metro station to Spagna (Spanish Square) and the famous Spanish Steps (impressive, but I think over rated) and visit America Express to cash ...Read more

We bought an all-day transit pass at a news stand 1½ blocks from our hotel, I took a bus to the Coliseum Metro station to Spagna (Spanish Square) and the famous Spanish Steps (impressive, but I think over rated) and visit America Express to cash Amex Travelers’ Checks at the best rate we found in Italy.

Rearmed with euros, we reversed direction to the far end of the Square and went left on Via d. Croce, an attractive narrow street lined with trendy shops, to Via Corso, Rome’s main shopping street. San Carlo al Corso, with its impressive Baroque interior was almost directly across V. Corso. A short walk (two blocks) to the left on leaving the church brought us to V. Pontifici, where a left turn brought us to the Tomb of Emperor Augustus.

Although desecrated by the Popes, who stole the marble facing of the tomb and the ring of statues that circled the garden on top, Augustus’ Tomb remains impressive. To fully appreciate it, find the sign along the sidewalk circling the tomb that has a drawing of how it originally looked. Seeing this picture also helped understand the structure of Castle San Angelo (Hadrian’s Tomb).

The Alter in Honor of the Peace of Augustus (~10BC), celebrating the end of 22 years of civil war, is adjacent to the tomb, inside the modern building. The alter is considered the finest remaining ancient Roman art work.

Now on the banks of the Tiber, we crossed the river, turned left past the monumental Law Courts to Castle S. Angelo, which technically is only the top part of the structure, a Papal Palace built on top of the garden that surmounted the Emperor Hadrian’s Tomb. Note how the Popes used the massive ancient Roman building as the center piece of the fortifications protecting the Papal Palace. Don’t miss the Pope’s bathroom.

There is a decent public restroom just inside the entrance on the left, and if I recall correctly, it can be reached before the ticket booth. After a visit to the Papal Palace, we proceeded along the Tiber to the grand entrance way to the grand entrance to Bernini’s grand Vatican Square where we visited St Peter’s Cathedral, saw the Pieta, and took a bus from just outside the entrance to Vatican Square back to within one block of our hotel. St Peter’s is the largest church in the world, almost 700 feet long, with 500 pillars supporting the roof. It is said to have once held 60,000 people.

We thought the best view of the Pieta was from the right side, rather than head on. Scrunch right up to the wall.

Note: If you are going directly into St Peter’s (free) rather than to the Papal Tombs(fee) under the church, you can bypass the long, long line waiting to get into the catacombs.

Being Culture Week, admission to Augustus’ Peace Alter and Hadrian’s were free. All in all, a fascinating walk through history.

From journal City of Thieves

Spanish Steps

by pointofnoreturn

Ottawa, Ontario

July 23, 2007

If you plan on doing some people-watching and don’t know where to start, the Spanish Steps is your best bet. It’s full of crowds and colourful people and there will always be action going on. The steps are located in Piazza di Spagna and can be ...Read more

From journal When in Rome...

Spanish Steps

by Roozie

Los Angeles, California

September 25, 2005

Climb to the top of the Spanish Steps for a romantic view of the city at night. No matter what time of day, the Steps are always bustling with activity, but it's especially lively and romantic at night. People sitting and eating gelatos, teenagers ...Read more

From journal Carefree Roman Holiday

Spanish Steps (Scalinata)

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User Reviews

Not worth the crowds.

The vertical area is famous, leading to the Trinity Church

All visitors must see this

Piazza di Spagna

Meeting Place for All of Rome

The Regal Spanish Steps

Piazza di Spagna

﻿Spanish Steps to the Vatican

Spanish Steps

Spanish Steps

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Spanish Steps to the Vatican