{"id":16688,"date":"2021-06-16T10:30:04","date_gmt":"2021-06-16T09:30:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/?p=16688"},"modified":"2023-09-04T15:57:08","modified_gmt":"2023-09-04T14:57:08","slug":"the-spanish-steps-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-spanish-steps-rome","title":{"rendered":"Rome&#8217;s Spanish Steps: Your Comprehensive Insider&#8217;s Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rome is one of the most famous cities in the world, with a plethora of things to do, see, eat and learn about. One of most famous landmarks in the city is undoubtedly the Spanish Steps (or, <i>Scalinata di Trinit\u00e0 dei Monti)<\/i>, which partly became so popular among tourists due to their appearance in the 1953 classic film <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Roman Holiday<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read along to find out more about the history of the steps (which, despite their name, were built by an Italian and funded by a Frenchman&#8230;complicated!), the ideal times to go, and information about nearby landmarks.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_19686\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19686\" class=\"wp-image-19686 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/corbett-campbell-_CCBOep-j0Q-unsplashres.jpg\" alt=\"Lots of people gathered at the bottom of a staircase in a busy city center\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/corbett-campbell-_CCBOep-j0Q-unsplashres.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/corbett-campbell-_CCBOep-j0Q-unsplashres-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-19686\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The view from the Spanish Steps offers gorgeous view of Rome&#8217;s city center. Photo credit: Corrett Campbell<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-spanish-steps-rome\/#A_brief_history_of_the_Spanish_Steps\" >A brief history of the Spanish Steps<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-spanish-steps-rome\/#Things_to_see_at_the_Spanish_Steps\" >Things to see at the Spanish Steps<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-spanish-steps-rome\/#Piazza_di_Spagna\" >Piazza di Spagna<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-spanish-steps-rome\/#Fontana_della_Barcaccia\" >Fontana della Barcaccia<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-spanish-steps-rome\/#Sallustiano_Obelisk_and_the_Church_of_Trinita_dei_Monti\" >Sallustiano Obelisk and the Church of Trinit\u00e0 dei Monti<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-spanish-steps-rome\/#Keats-Shelley_Memorial_House\" >Keats-Shelley Memorial House<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-spanish-steps-rome\/#Best_times_to_visit_the_Spanish_Steps\" >Best times to visit the Spanish Steps<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-spanish-steps-rome\/#Annual_springtime_flower_display_on_the_Spanish_Steps\" >Annual springtime flower display on the Spanish Steps<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-spanish-steps-rome\/#Tips_for_visiting_the_Spanish_Steps\" >Tips for visiting the Spanish Steps<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-spanish-steps-rome\/#Dont_sit_on_the_Spanish_Steps\" >Don\u2019t sit on the Spanish Steps<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-spanish-steps-rome\/#Avoid_pickpocketing_in_Rome\" >Avoid pickpocketing in Rome<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_brief_history_of_the_Spanish_Steps\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A brief history of the Spanish Steps<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the 17th century, the French wanted to create a symbolic connection between France and Spain in Rome. However, a wooded hill separated the newly-built Trinit\u00e0 dei Monti church, owned by the French, from the Piazza di Spagna, named for the Bourbon Spanish Embassy that stood alongside it. A competition was held for the best design and the winner\u2014a little-known sculptor named Francesco de Sanctis\u2014gave the world the Spanish Steps.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00c9tienne Gueffier, who was a French diplomat, funded the creation of the steps. The original design included an equestrian statue of King Louis XIV of France at the top, but ultimately was never built. However, the steps have a small touch of French flair with carvings of the fleurs-de-lis of the Bourbon family plus the checkered eagle coat of arms of Pope Innocent XIII.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 135-step staircase is one of the grandest public works in Europe and is bookended by two of Rome\u2019s most whimsical monuments: the Fontana della Barcaccia and the Sallustiano Obelisk. The first foreigners to make the steps famous were Romantic writers of the 19th century, such as John Keats who died in a house overlooking them. Since then, everyone from Audrey Hepburn in <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Roman Holiday<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to Ray Romano in <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Everybody Loves Raymond<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has made the Spanish Steps part of their Roman sojourns.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20238\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20238\" class=\"wp-image-20238 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/spanishsteps-34834724632_0140bd4ee4_kres.jpg\" alt=\"Stairs\" width=\"1200\" height=\"797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/spanishsteps-34834724632_0140bd4ee4_kres.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/spanishsteps-34834724632_0140bd4ee4_kres-768x510.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20238\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">There are 135 Spanish Steps. Photo credit: morebyless<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Things_to_see_at_the_Spanish_Steps\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Things to see at the Spanish Steps<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re planning to see Rome\u2019s famous Spanish Steps, don\u2019t miss all that there is to do and see nearby!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Piazza_di_Spagna\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Piazza di Spagna<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">piazza <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(square) is one of thousands located throughout Rome, but is certainly one of the most visited and well-known.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The square is named after the Palazzo di Spagna, which houses the Spanish Embassy to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usccb.org\/offices\/general-secretariat\/holy-see\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Holy See<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (it\u2019s also in close relation to the Tiber River and not far from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/rome-attractions-piazza-navona\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Piazza Navona<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Piazza di Spagna is also in close proximity to one of Rome\u2019s most controversial landmarks: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1986\/05\/05\/style\/romans-protest-mcdonald-s.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">McDonald\u2019s<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Since its opening in 1986, the fast food chain has faced opposition from various quarters, including fashion house Valentino, which is located nearby and shares an underground basement with the restaurant. Valentino complained that fashion and fast food could not coexist and petitioned for the fast food chain to vanish. Despite the pushback, McDonald\u2019s decided to stay put but installed a world-class air filtration system to eliminate harsh smells that could bother the fashion house.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20241\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20241\" class=\"wp-image-20241 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/jose-maria-sava-9lzSS862Fns-unsplashresize.jpg\" alt=\"A group of people walking down a street next to tall buildings and a fountain\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/jose-maria-sava-9lzSS862Fns-unsplashresize.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/jose-maria-sava-9lzSS862Fns-unsplashresize-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20241\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">There are so many piazzas in Rome, and Piazza di Spagna is one of the most famous. Photo credit: Jose Maria Sava<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fontana_della_Barcaccia\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fontana della Barcaccia<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1598, record floods along the Tiber river filled Piazza di Spagna with over three feet of water. According to the story, the wreckage of an old boat that had floated through the streets finally came to a rest there.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This boat is said to be the inspiration for the fountain, aptly named<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Fontana della Barcaccia<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (\u201cFountain of the leaky boat\u201d). It was commissioned by Pope Urban VIII and sculpted by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/things-to-see-in-rome-bernini\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pietro Bernini<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and his son, the great Gian Lorenzo Bernini.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_19687\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19687\" class=\"wp-image-19687 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shai-pal-3rbqwaYnf4w-unsplashresize.jpg\" alt=\"A view of the Spanish Steps in Rome at sunset.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shai-pal-3rbqwaYnf4w-unsplashresize.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shai-pal-3rbqwaYnf4w-unsplashresize-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-19687\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rome&#8217;s Spanish Steps were constructed between 1723 and 1725. Photo credit: Shai Pal<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sallustiano_Obelisk_and_the_Church_of_Trinita_dei_Monti\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sallustiano Obelisk and the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Church of Trinit\u00e0 dei Monti<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Trinit\u00e0 dei Monti is<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">by one of the many quirks of Roman history<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintained by France, making it perhaps the most famous French church that\u2019s not in France.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While its fa\u00e7ade and its perch atop the Spanish Steps garner greater notoriety, the interior also unveils a captivating gem: Daniele Da Volterra&#8217;s exquisite painting, &#8220;The Deposition.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Da Volterra has provided a source of amusement for art historians due to his assignment of adorning loin cloths onto the nude figures in Michelangelo\u2019s Last Judgment within the Sistine Chapel. As a result of this task, he earned the enduring nickname &#8220;Il Braghettone,&#8221; which translates to &#8220;The Trouser Maker.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sallustiano Obelisk, which is located at the summit of the Spanish Steps, rules over the steps, and faces the church. A large stone plinth that resembles one of the many obelisks that Roman emperors brought back from Egypt is actually a cunning Roman imitation. The hieroglyphics from the &#8220;authentic&#8221; Flaminio Obelisk, one of Rome&#8217;s most iconic monuments, were even copied by the sculptors.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_19689\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19689\" class=\"wp-image-19689 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/29023640228_b835451ea5_kresize.jpg\" alt=\"A church with a blue, sunny sky in the background\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/29023640228_b835451ea5_kresize.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/29023640228_b835451ea5_kresize-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-19689\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Church of the Santissima Trinit\u00e0 dei Monti features a distinctive French Gothic architectural style. Photo credit: Fred Romero<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Keats-Shelley_Memorial_House\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keats-Shelley Memorial House<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Italy profoundly influenced the Romantic writers and artists of the 18th and 19th centuries. You can trace the paths of Shelley and Byron by visiting Lake Como, follow Goethe&#8217;s journey through Sicily, or seek the spirit of D.H. Lawrence amid the lemon groves of the Amalfi Coast.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To immerse yourself in the Romantics&#8217; Rome, head to John Keats&#8217; House overlooking the Spanish Steps. It&#8217;s more a place where he passed away from tuberculosis than where he resided, but this transformation into a museum for the Romantics feels oddly fitting, encapsulating life&#8217;s transience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inside, you&#8217;ll discover perhaps the world&#8217;s most extensive collection of memorabilia from this remarkable generation of mainly English artists, featuring works by Keats, Shelley, Wordsworth, Oscar Wilde, and others. While there, take a moment to try to catch the sound of the waters from the Fontana della Barcaccia. Legend has it that this sound comforted Keats in his final moments and inspired the line he wished for on his epitaph: &#8220;Here lies one whose name was written in water.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_19688\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19688\" class=\"wp-image-19688 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/2989398385_cc65c953a2_kresize.jpg\" alt=\"The outside of buildings in Rome with people walking in the background\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/2989398385_cc65c953a2_kresize.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/2989398385_cc65c953a2_kresize-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-19688\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Keats-Shelley Memorial House has become a pilgrimage site for literature enthusiasts from around the world. Photo credit: HarshLight<\/p><\/div>\n<p><b>Insider\u2019s tip:<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re eager to delve into more detailed narratives of these well-known sites, along with discovering other essential landmarks in Rome, consider embarking on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/rome-tours\/welcome-rome-walking-tours\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Welcome to Rome<\/a> tour.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Best_times_to_visit_the_Spanish_Steps\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Best times to visit the Spanish Steps<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being such a popular spot in Rome, the concept of a truly &#8220;quiet&#8221; time to experience the Spanish Steps (as well as other prominent landmarks in the city) might be a bit elusive. From dawn till dusk, you\u2019ll find people in the piazza and congregating on the steps.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That being said, early in the morning (around 7 or 8 AM) is probably your best bet for a chance at beating the crowds. When it comes to Rome in general, the best times to visit are during the shoulder seasons of spring (April to June) and fall (September to October).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During these months, the weather is generally pleasant, with milder temperatures and fewer crowds compared to the peak summer season.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Annual_springtime_flower_display_on_the_Spanish_Steps\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Annual springtime flower display on the Spanish Steps<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the end of April, the Spanish steps are adorned with beautiful azalea flowers to celebrate the city&#8217;s birthday, otherwise known as &#8220;Natale di Roma\u201d or \u201cCompleanno di Roma,\u201d which is held on April 21. This tradition dates back over 80 years, and is a treat for locals and visitors alike. If you&#8217;re visiting Rome during this time, definitely check it out!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tips_for_visiting_the_Spanish_Steps\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tips for visiting the Spanish Steps<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because the Spanish Steps are an open-air public landmark and don&#8217;t ask for any ticket fees, there&#8217;s not a whole lot to worry about before you head over. Just remember these tips:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dont_sit_on_the_Spanish_Steps\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t sit on the Spanish Steps<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since August 2019, sitting on the Spanish Steps is no longer allowed, and could get you into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/getting-in-trouble-italy\">trouble in Italy<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It&#8217;s also forbidden to eat or write on them and fines can be hefty for offenders. It seems harsh, but these measures are in place to protect important landmarks and historical monuments in the city.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Avoid_pickpocketing_in_Rome\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid pickpocketing in Rome<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As usual, exercise caution with your belongings when exploring busy landmarks and moving around Rome in general. Additionally, stay vigilant of sellers who might try to push &#8220;gifts&#8221; like bracelets or roses on you and later demand payment. These encounters are common around the Spanish Steps, so be alert!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>This article was originally published on June 16, 2021 and was updated on August 31, 2023.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rome is one of the most famous cities in the world, with a plethora of things to do, see, eat and learn about. One of most famous landmarks in the city is undoubtedly the Spanish Steps (or, Scalinata di Trinit\u00e0 dei Monti), which partly became so popular among tourists due to their appearance in the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":88,"featured_media":19095,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[149],"tags":[87,20,63,18],"ppma_author":[196],"class_list":["post-16688","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-attractions","tag-architecture","tag-attractions","tag-trip-planning","tag-rome"],"authors":[{"term_id":196,"user_id":88,"is_guest":0,"slug":"chiarar","display_name":"Chiara R.","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Chiara-Rossi.png","url2x":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Chiara-Rossi.png"},"user_url":"","last_name":"R.","first_name":"Chiara","job_title":"","description":"Born and raised amidst the ancient ruins and charming cobblestone streets, Chiara is the ultimate insider when it comes to all things Rome. Whether she's unraveling the secrets of the Colosseum or exploring the trendy neighborhoods of Trastevere, Chiara's always immersing herself in the world of fashion, food and travel, and she loves sharing her life and insights to the world through her writing."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16688"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/88"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16688"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16688\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20287,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16688\/revisions\/20287"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19095"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16688"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16688"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=16688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}