Spanish Steps Monument

Address: Piazza di Spagna, 00187 Roma RM, Italy

Hours: Open 24 hours

Admission: Free

The Spanish Steps are a monumental Baroque stairway in Rome that connect the Piazza di Spagna below with the church of Trinità dei Monti above. They are one of the city’s most recognisable public spaces and a historic meeting place.

The stairway is frequented for its stepped seating, views over the surrounding streets and proximity to Via Condotti with its high-end shops. The top of the steps provides a viewpoint over central Rome and access to the Pincio gardens a short walk away.

The steps were constructed between 1723 and 1725 to designs by Francesco de Sanctis with funding provided by a French diplomat, creating a ceremonial link between the Spanish square and the French church. They have been restored several times since to repair wear and damage.

Located in the Campo Marzio district, the base sits at Piazza di Spagna near the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See and is within easy walking distance of the Trevi Fountain and other central Roman landmarks.

• Number of steps: The stairway comprises 135 steps and links the Piazza di Spagna at its base with the church of Trinità dei Monti at the top.
• Visiting tips: Early morning and late evening visits reduce crowds and are preferred for photography; sitting and eating on the steps is restricted at certain times to protect the monument.

The Spanish Steps are at Piazza di Spagna in central Rome and are served directly by Metro Line A: get off at Spagna station and you’re at the top of the steps within a minute or two. From Roma Termini it’s three stops on Metro Line A (or about a 15-20 minute walk).

• Visit at first light for unobstructed photos and to avoid the midday crowds that gather on the steps and in the surrounding shopping streets.
• Start at the Metro Spagna exit and then climb to the Trinità dei Monti church for a more elevated view of the city; many visitors never go beyond the bottom of the steps.
• Pop into the Keats-Shelley House museum at the base of the steps if you want a calm, literary diversion most tourists miss while focusing on the staircase itself.