Spanish Steps

Before the 18th century, a steep and muddy slope separated Piazza di Spagna from the French church of Trinità dei Monti. Francesco De Sanctis designed the staircase built between 1723 and 1726, funded by a French diplomatic legacy and opened around the Jubilee of 1725. Its 11 ramps divide and reconnect across terraces, transforming difficult terrain into an elaborate piece of urban choreography.

The “Spanish” name comes from the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See in the square below, not from the stair's patronage or designer. At the foot stands the Barcaccia fountain, created by Pietro Bernini with help traditionally associated with his son Gian Lorenzo. Its low, boat-like form responds to the weak water pressure of the Acqua Vergine at this point. Above, the church's twin towers finish the composition.

The steps became a meeting place for artists, models, travelers, and the nearby community of foreign writers. John Keats died in the house beside the lower steps in 1821; it is now the Keats-Shelley House. Restorations in 1995 and 2015–16 repaired the travertine. Walking is welcome, but sitting on the steps is prohibited. Cross the square first and look back from the Barcaccia: the branching ramps read most clearly from below.

Did you know

• 135 is the answer to one of the most useful details to remember on site.
• Eleven ramps that repeatedly split and rejoin.
• The Barcaccia's half-submerged boat form at the foot.

Architecture and details

Read the monument from a distance first, then move close enough to separate original fabric from repairs and later reuse. Changes in stone color, carving depth and blocked openings often explain more than a single frontal view. At Spanish Steps, compare these broad choices with the specific materials, openings and proportions described on site.

What to look for

• Eleven ramps that repeatedly split and rejoin.
• The Barcaccia's half-submerged boat form at the foot.
• Trinità dei Monti's twin towers crowning the hill.
• White and lilac azaleas displayed in spring.

Today

The steps are free and open at all hours, but municipal rules prohibit sitting on them and police may enforce the ban. The climb has 135 steps and no lift; step-free routes use surrounding sloping streets or Spagna Metro connections, which can involve detours. The site is busiest from late morning through evening. Access rules checked 2026-10-07. Cross the square first and look back from the Barcaccia: the branching ramps read most clearly from below.