Best Places to Visit in Rome, Italy

The Spanish Steps and Piazza di Spagna

The Spanish Steps at the Piazza di Spagna  lead uphill to the church Trinita dei Monte. Known formally as the Scalinata della Trinita, the "Steps" are one of the most scenic and  popular meeting places in Rome.  In May, the steps are adorned with azaleas and are extraordinarily beautiful.  It is rare to find a time when the Spanish Steps are empty, so expect large crowds on the Steps and in the Piazza.  Although the Spanish Steps are beautiful at night, we recommend that you avoid the Piazza in the late evenings.

The steps were built to connect the "Spanish Embassy to the Vatican", located in the Piazza di Spagna, with the French church Trinita de Monti, which is up a relatively steep hill. The Piazza  was given the name Spagna, due to the presence of the Spanish Embassy to the Vatican, which remains in the square to this day.

The "Steps" were added in the 18th century, a time when the House of Bourbon ruled in France, Spain, Naples and Sicily.  The 138 Spanish Steps are known for their width, size and impressive architecture.

The Trinita dei Monti church at the top of the hill dates from the 16th century and features a single nave with several side altars.  The Sunday mass is in French.

In addition to its well-known attractions, there are several shops and restaurants (including one serving waffles) in the Piazza, but prices can be fairly hefty due to the popularity of the area.  Adjacent to the Piazza are several streets where the shopping is quite good.