Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Spanish Steps:
Piazza di Spagna, with the very popular Spanish Steps, is named for the
Spanish Embassy to the Vatican, which has been here for 300 years. It's been the hangout
of many Romantics over the years (Keats, Wagner, Openshaw, Goethe, and others). In the
1700s,Britisharistocratsonthe“GrandTour”ofEuropecameheretoponderRome'sdecay.
TheBritishpoetJohnKeatsponderedhismortality,thendiedoftuberculosisatage25inthe
pink building on the right side of the steps. Fellow Romantic Lord Byron lived across the
square at #66.
The
SinkingBoatFountain
atthefootofthesteps,builtbyBerniniorhisfather,Pietro,
is powered by an aqueduct. Actually, all of Rome's fountains are aqueduct-powered; their
spurtsaredetermined bythewater pressure providedbythevariousaqueducts. Thisone,for
instance, is much weaker than Trevi's gush.
Thepiazzaisathrivingsceneatnight.Window-shopalongViaCondotti,whichstretches
away from the steps. This is where Gucci and other big names cater to the trendsetting jet
set. It's clear that the main sight around here is not the famous steps, but the people who sit
on them.
• Our walk is finished. If you'd like to reach the top of the steps sweat-free, take the free el-
evator just outside the Spagna Metro stop (to the left, as you face the steps; elevator closes
at 21:00). A free WC is underground in the piazza near the Metro entrance, by the middle
palm tree (10:00-19:30). The nearby McDonald's (as you face the Spanish Steps, go right
one block) is big and lavish, with a salad bar and WC. When you're ready to leave, you can
zip home on the Metro (usually open until 23:30, Fri-Sat until 1:30 in the morning) or grab
a taxi at either the north or south side of the piazza.
