Italy: Spanish Steps, Rome

November 2016

Like the Trevi Fountain (not terribly far away), the Spanish Steps in Rome have great staying power as a tourist attraction for a specific activity. At Trevi, visitors make a wish and toss coins - on the Spanish steps, people simply sit and watch Rome pass by. I remember my friends in university talking about how "cool" it was to sit on the Spanish steps - that was a long time ago. I was finally there and, apparently, all those seated had waited for me.

A long set of stairs topped off by a large church - it was scenic, but it was also ROME - everywhere in the city are places like a film sets. Why is it such a big deal?

The Spanish Steps in Rome, Italy, climb a steep slope between Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, dominated by the Trinità dei Monti church, at the top. The monumental stairway of 135 steps is linked with the Trinità dei Monti church, under the patronage of the Bourbon kings of France, at the top of the steps and the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See in the Palazzo Monaldeschi at the bottom of the steps. The stairway was designed by the architects Francesco de Sanctis and Alessandro Specchi.

...

Over the years, several city administrations have tried to dissuade visitors from getting too comfortable on the steps, banning loitering and eating, but the ordinances have not been enforced. However, in July 2019 the administration of Mayor Virginia Raggi, as part of an attempt to get ill-mannered tourists to behave themselves in Rome, introduced more stringent ordinances designed to "guarantee decorum, security and legality". These regulations allow for fines of €250 for sitting down on the steps and up to €400 for dirtying or damaging the steps (including eating on them or pushing a pram up or down them).

(Wikipedia)

The number of "incidents" on the stairs over the years is shocking. Multiple attempts to "drive" down the stairs have damaged them. People are nuts.

Why those steps in a city filled with amazing open spaces have become the place to tarry? No idea. Was it "Roman Holiday" in 1953 and numerous Italian films before that which popularized the place?

I arrived at the bottom, admired the piazza, and climbed up (long and steep). The views over the city are impressive, but most people just sit near the bottom by the Piazza di Spagna. After taking in the roofs of Rome, I continued with my tour on foot - I saw several huge villas later that day. They impressed me a lot more than the Spanish Steps.

Spanish Steps - check. I didn't really "get" the experience.