Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
6. Spanish Steps and Piazza di Spagna
The widest staircase in all of Europe, the Spanish Steps scale the slope between the Piazza di
Spagna and the Piazza Trinita dei Monti, which is so named for the Trinita dei Monti church.
The iconic staircase is comprised of 135 stairs that were inspired by stairs often found in ter-
raced gardens. While the Spanish Steps have been restored several times over the years, they
remain one of the most popular attractions in all of Rome due to the surrounding historical
points of interest.
At the foot of the Spanish Steps is the Piazza di Spagna, which is home to the Fontana dell
Barcaccia. This unique fountain is the work of Pietro Bernini and his son, Gian Lorenzo.
This famous fountain is said to have been commissioned by Pope Urban VIII, after a boat
washed ashore during the River Tiber's historical flood in 1598. In truth, the centerpiece of
the fountain was installed as a solution to a problem with the fountain's water pressure.
