Spanish Steps Rome, Photos, Building, Italian Design, Date, Location, Picture

Spanish Steps, Rome : Scalla della Trinita dei Monti

Scalla della Trinita dei Monti : Roman building photographs, Italy

post updated 17 July 2021

Spanish Steps Rome

Scalla della Trinita dei Monti

Spanish Steps, Piazza di Spagna

Date: 1723-26

Location: city centre, off north end of the Via del Corso, on east side – ie midway between the Piazza del Popolo and the Quirinale.

View looking up Spanish Steps from below:
Spanish Steps Rome - Piazza di Spagna

The Spanish Steps are a set of steps in central Rome, just north of the city centre. They climb a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, dominated by the Trinità dei Monti church at the top.

Famous boat sculpture in Piazza di Spagna:
Spanish Steps Piazza di Spagna Piazza di Spagna Roma Piazza di Spagna

The monumental stairway of 135 steps was built with French diplomat Étienne Gueffier’s bequeathed funds of 20,000 scudi, in 1723–1725. They link the Trinità dei Monti church that was under the patronage of the Bourbon kings of France and the Bourbon Spanish Embassy at the top of the steps to the Holy See in the Palazzo Monaldeschi at the bottom of the steps. The stairway was designed by architects Francesco de Sanctis and Alessandro Specchi.

View looking west down Spanish Steps from above:
Spanish Steps Rome Spanish Steps Rome

A competition was held in 1717. It was won by the obscure Francesco de Sanctis, however Alessandro Specchi has long considered to have produced the winning entry. Little is known of the architect, who was favored by the French in the design process.

Spanish Steps building : Trinita dei Monti
Trinita dei Monti
photograph © Adrian Welch

The Spanish Steps famous to an American audience via the film Roman Holiday (1953), starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. They were also featured prominently in the film version of The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), starring Matt Damon.

Piazza di Spagna – view from below, looking east
Piazza di Spagna

Spanish Embassy:
Spanish Embassy

Adjacent buildings to the east of Scalla della Trinita dei Monti:

Hotel ; Cinema:
Spanish Steps hotel Spanish Steps cinema

Spanish Steps images © Adrian Welch : available upon request: photos 2816×2112 pixels

Location: Piazza di Spagna, Rome, Italy, southern Europe

Architecture in Rome

Rome Architecture Designs

Rome Architecture Designs – chronological list

Rome Architecture Walking Tours by e-architect guides – city walks

Rome Architecture News

Rome architecture : contemporary buildings

Architecture Walking Tours

Roman Buildings : Traditional architecture

Key Architecture close to the Spanish Steps / Piazza di Spagna:

The Pantheon
The Pantheon dome
photo © Adrian Welch

Piazza del Popolo
Piazza del Popolo Rome - Carlo Rainaldi Architecture
photograph © Adrian Welch

Piazza Colonna, Via del Corso

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