Spanish Steps
Quick Facts
- In 1717, there was a contest to design the steps. The contest was won by Francesco de Sanctis, a Baroque architect, and were built between 1723 and 1725. He may have been assisted by Alessandro Specchi.
- The steps use the side of Pincio Hill to connect the Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Embassy to the church.
- Although there are numerous works of art in the church of Trinita dei Monte, it is only well-known because of its location at the top of the steps.
- There are 135 steps. The elevated drainage system at the bottom of the steps is often mistaken for a step.
- The fountain at the bottom was built by Bernini’s dad Pietro, and is called Fontanna della Barcaccia, which means Fountain of the Ugly Boat.
- On June 3, 2022, two American tourists pushed electric scooters down the 297-year-old Spanish Steps and their actions dislodged four inches of travertine and caused $27,000 in damages. Both tourists were fined.
- Sitting on the famous Spanish Steps is no longer allowed as the city has brought a ban into effect against such behaviour to protect its cultural relics. Police officers have begun patrolling the steps and cautioning anyone found sitting on them. Offenders who ignore officers' warnings risk a fine of 250 euros (370 Cdn), which can go up to 400 euros (590 Cdn) if the steps are dirtied or damaged.
Obelisk
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It is easy to think that there are hundreds of ancient Egyptian Obelisks all over Rome because they seem to be in every piazza.
In reality, there are eight Egyptian obelisks and five Roman copies. The copies were manufactured in Egypt or Rome during the Roman period. Wealthy Romans who liked to display them in their gardens would order a copy and have it delivered. The Obelisk at the top of the Spanish Steps is a smaller copy of the obelisk we just saw in Piazza del Popolo. It was originally made to be displayed in the Gardens of Sallust. The Sallust property is located between the Pincian and Quirinals Hills and was originally owned by Julius Caesar. After Caesar’s death, Gaius Sallustius Crispis, known as Sallust, a Roman historian, bought Caesar’s property and built on it by using his wealth that he extorted as governor of the province of North Africa. In 410, the Sallust property was sacked by the Goths and fell into ruins. Hundreds of years later, in the seventeenth century, the property was bought by Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi, the nephew of Pope Gregory XV. Funny, isn’t it, how nephews seemed to inherit Cardinal jobs; it seems we just left another Cardinal nephew at the Borghese gardens! Ludovisi built a huge villa and during the construction found the obelisk. It was finally moved to its current location by Pope Pius VI in 1789. |
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The Fountain
- Depending on the translation you use for the name of the fountain, it either means: The Fountain of the Old Boat, or Ugly Boat, or Leaky Boat.
- Pietro Bernini, who is the father of the famous Bernini whose sculptures you have been seeing throughout this tour, is responsible for this boat resting at the base of the steps.
- Rumour has it that Bernini the son, helped his dad with the sculpting.
- It is made of Travertine stone and was completed in 1629, during the Baroque era. This is the first fountain in Rome that was conceived as a sculptural work of art not using geometric shapes as its base design.
- There are two theories about its chosen design. Both honour a flood and either is plausible:
- The first and most popular theory is that during the Christmas season of 1598, the Tiber River flooded Rome and the only way to get about town was by using a boat. The Piazza Spagna and areas of similar altitude were deep in over a meter of water. According to legend, when the water receded an old and possibly ugly boat, which must have been leaky for sure, was left sitting in this location.
- The second theory is that it was built to remind the Romans of their own past since they used this type of boat to transport wine barrels down the Tiber. This theory supports the sides of the boat being so low to the ground that barrels of wine could be easily lifted on and off the boat. Perhaps those commandeering the boat that Christmas evening had consumed a little too much wine which ended up causing the boat to be leaky, which supports the theory listed above.
Spanish Steps and the other St. Francis
There are so many stories about Rome and Italy, that it is difficult to present only a minimum amount required for this tour to be delightfully informative. It is all so interesting!
For example, there wasn’t always a French church at the top of the Spanish Steps! Originally, the area was a vineyard that was bought by an old hermit, named Saint Francis of Paola.
Paola was his hometown and is located on the top-side of the foot of the Italian geographic boot. He was also called St. Francis the Fire Handler as he was known to have the ability to handle scorching, red-hot coals without being burned.
His real name was indeed Francis, since his parents named him after St. Francis of Assisi. Francis of Paola was never a real priest however, after a road trip to Assisi with his parents and being personally moved by the plight of St. Francis, he found a cave on his father’s property, lived in solitude and became a mendicant friar (beggar). The real St. Francis was the leader of the cave dwellers and lived in a cave just up the road from Assisi.
After a few years dwelling in the family cave, Francis of Paola left home and moved to a newer cave on the coast with a better view. In 1435, two friends joined him. Together they had three caves and a chapel and started a movement called the Hermits of St. Francis of Assisi.
In 1474, the Hermits were renamed by Pope Alexander VI as the Minimite Friars. The name refers to their role as the “least of all the faithful.” They were minimalists, they didn’t eat meat or other animal products and they took the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. Francis has been described as a vegan.
They didn’t have real jobs so they took to begging so they could feed themselves. They must have done quite well at begging because in 1454, when the number of followers had increased, Francis of Paola, built various monasteries throughout Sicily and Calabria, including a large monastery here in Rome, on the top of the Pincio Hill.
The story of St. Francis of Paola goes on and on and is really quite an interesting read, especially the WWII bombing reference to the monastery in Paola.
Now... Back to the Steps... The Minimite monastery was already built when in 1502, King Louis XII of France, who was a follower of St. Francis of Paola, started construction of a church next to it. In 1585, Pope Sixtus V had the church rebuilt in the Renaissance style. The King then insisted that Paola go back to France with him; which he did. He didn’t have to beg anymore as the king kept him quite well.
There weren’t any steps from the Piazza below to the church above and people had to weave their way up the steep Pincio slope through the wooded hillside. In 1717, a competition was held to build a flight of steps up the side of the Pincio Hill to the church. It’s not really clear in all the reference material who actually won the competition. Some sources present that it was Francesco de Sanctis, others list Allesandro Specchi, and others give the pair of them credit.
For some unknown reason, the Spanish Steps turned into being the happening-place-to-be and it became a popular area for artists, poets, painters and just plain wild activities.
In 1839, Babington’s Tea Room was founded by two English women, Isabel Cargill and Anne Marie Babington, so all the British people visiting the steps could stop for a spot of afternoon tea.
The house of John Keats, the English poet, is at the base of the steps to the right.
In 1953, Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck made the steps famous in the movie Roman Holiday. In 2000, the steps were featured in an Everybody Loves Raymond episode when the family climbed to the top. Also contributing to the popularity of the Spanish Steps is the fact that the American Express office is right down the road.
For example, there wasn’t always a French church at the top of the Spanish Steps! Originally, the area was a vineyard that was bought by an old hermit, named Saint Francis of Paola.
Paola was his hometown and is located on the top-side of the foot of the Italian geographic boot. He was also called St. Francis the Fire Handler as he was known to have the ability to handle scorching, red-hot coals without being burned.
His real name was indeed Francis, since his parents named him after St. Francis of Assisi. Francis of Paola was never a real priest however, after a road trip to Assisi with his parents and being personally moved by the plight of St. Francis, he found a cave on his father’s property, lived in solitude and became a mendicant friar (beggar). The real St. Francis was the leader of the cave dwellers and lived in a cave just up the road from Assisi.
After a few years dwelling in the family cave, Francis of Paola left home and moved to a newer cave on the coast with a better view. In 1435, two friends joined him. Together they had three caves and a chapel and started a movement called the Hermits of St. Francis of Assisi.
In 1474, the Hermits were renamed by Pope Alexander VI as the Minimite Friars. The name refers to their role as the “least of all the faithful.” They were minimalists, they didn’t eat meat or other animal products and they took the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. Francis has been described as a vegan.
They didn’t have real jobs so they took to begging so they could feed themselves. They must have done quite well at begging because in 1454, when the number of followers had increased, Francis of Paola, built various monasteries throughout Sicily and Calabria, including a large monastery here in Rome, on the top of the Pincio Hill.
The story of St. Francis of Paola goes on and on and is really quite an interesting read, especially the WWII bombing reference to the monastery in Paola.
Now... Back to the Steps... The Minimite monastery was already built when in 1502, King Louis XII of France, who was a follower of St. Francis of Paola, started construction of a church next to it. In 1585, Pope Sixtus V had the church rebuilt in the Renaissance style. The King then insisted that Paola go back to France with him; which he did. He didn’t have to beg anymore as the king kept him quite well.
There weren’t any steps from the Piazza below to the church above and people had to weave their way up the steep Pincio slope through the wooded hillside. In 1717, a competition was held to build a flight of steps up the side of the Pincio Hill to the church. It’s not really clear in all the reference material who actually won the competition. Some sources present that it was Francesco de Sanctis, others list Allesandro Specchi, and others give the pair of them credit.
For some unknown reason, the Spanish Steps turned into being the happening-place-to-be and it became a popular area for artists, poets, painters and just plain wild activities.
In 1839, Babington’s Tea Room was founded by two English women, Isabel Cargill and Anne Marie Babington, so all the British people visiting the steps could stop for a spot of afternoon tea.
The house of John Keats, the English poet, is at the base of the steps to the right.
In 1953, Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck made the steps famous in the movie Roman Holiday. In 2000, the steps were featured in an Everybody Loves Raymond episode when the family climbed to the top. Also contributing to the popularity of the Spanish Steps is the fact that the American Express office is right down the road.
Directions: Spanish Steps to Trevi Fountain - Distance: 650 M Time: 10 Min
