Rome History – Spanish Steps

Posted by Romanizer on July 07, 2010 in History tagged with Piazza Di Spagna, spanish step

The Spanish Steps (Italian: Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti) are a set of steps in Rome, Italy, climbing a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, dominated by the church of Trinità dei Monti. The Scalinata is the longest and widest staircase in Europe.^[1]

The monumental stairway of 138 steps was built with French diplomat Étienne Gueffier’s bequeathed funds of 20,000 scudi, in 1723–1725, linking the Bourbon Spanish Embassy to the Holy See, today still located in Palazzo Monaldeschi in the piazza below, with the Trinità dei Montim the church that was under the patronage of the Bourbon kings of France, above. (Source | Wikipedia)

Rome, in the XVIII century, began to see the development of the port of Ripetta, an area going from the Tiber to the Spanish Steps, and it was necessary to create a connection between the French church of Trinità dei Monti and the underlying zone, but the papacy was always opposed, not favorable to recognize the strong presence of France in Rome.

For the project and realization of the stairway a young architect was entrusted, Francesco de Santis, who enjoyed of the favors both of the Pope and the French.

It was 1722 and this young architect immediately resolved the problem of the architectural perspective and gave a touch of elegance and sumptuousness to this stairway. In effect the stairs depart separated by the top of the hill, reunify and separate themselves in a succession of 12 ramps finally opening like a fan getting the effect of a fall that throws himself in the piazza. De Santis has perfectly reached the visual effect of height, amplified by this succession of ramps: walking alone with your guide coming down from the most famous marble steps in the world is an unforgettable experience.

At the top of the stairway stands the French church of Trinità dei Monti, built in 1495, with its two domes and the Sallustian obelisk (found in the nearby Horti Sallustiani it belongs to the Egyptian period and was brought to Rome by Octavian Augustus) placed there in 1789.

Down of the stairway is the Barcaccia, fountain built by Pietro Bernini (father of Gianlorenzo) in 1629 on commission of Urban VIII Barberini which in the 1598 flood, after the shipwreck of a boat in the piazza, had the idea to build a symmetrical fountain with the form of a boat under the road level, resolving the problem of the low pressure of the water given by the gradient of the hill.

The piazza had called so for the presence of the residence of the ambassador of Spain and the side towards via del Babuino was called Piazza di Francia. To the right of the stairway there is a red house, the English poet’s residence John Keats.

In the zone of the piazza a lot of pictorial galleries are found (via Margutta), the Caffè Greco (frequented by Stendhal and Baudelaire) and numerous boutiques that have their maximum expression of elegance in via Condotti with its “made in Italy” as Versace, Gucci, Fendi, Armani, only few names which can be found among the most prestigious fashion makers.

The Spanish Steps take their name for the presence of the Spanish Embassy to the Holy Seat (the Vatican) which is located at the bottom of the staircase and if you want to know more hiring a personal tour guide of Rome you will discover also how and when the pope goes at the Spanish Steps once a year moving from the Vatican.

The history of the Spanish Steps deserves more attention by the tour guides of Rome because this wonder of Rome is often skipped for the stupid reason of having never time. Imagine how you can start a Minibus tour of Rome, strolling through the baroque monuments of Rome dealing with the surprises along your way like the house of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who lived at the bottom of the Spanish Steps during the seventeenth century.

Discover the treasures of Rome with customized sightseeing tours of Rome lectured by personal escorts who can make exciting your staying in the Eternal City.

Source | rome-tours.org