Rome Check-in: Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps are located at the intersection of Via del Corso and Via di Spagna in Rome. The most striking features of the square are the Spanish Steps, the obelisk, and the Barcaccia Fountain at the base of the steps. The Spanish Steps, designed in the Baroque style, consist of 138 steps and are famous for their elegant curves and wide platforms. They were built with funding from the French royal family to connect the Trinità dei Monti Church at the top of the hill with the Spanish Square below, promoting religious pilgrimages and social gatherings. The project began in 1723 and was completed in 1726. Each spring, the steps are adorned with blooming azaleas, creating a beautiful scene. 🌸🌸 At the bottom of the steps, the Barcaccia Fountain was designed by Italian sculptor Pietro Bernini between 1627 and 1629, with most of the carving done by his son, Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The design of the fountain was inspired by a stranded little boat, with water flowing from the hull. The fountain's water source comes from the famous Acqua Vergine aqueduct, one of the oldest water supply systems in Rome. 💦🚤 The obelisk in front of the church originally belonged to the Egyptian Pharaoh Menephta and was brought back to Rome by Emperor Augustus. In 1818, the obelisk was relocated to the center of the Spanish Square, becoming a unique feature of the square. 🏺✨ The classic scene from the movie "Roman Holiday," where Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck enjoy ice cream on the Spanish Steps (the joys of life can be so simple: the encounter of two young people and a cone of ice cream...) has further established the Spanish Steps as a globally recognized landmark. 🍦💖 #CulturalLandmark #Sightseeing #Architecture #GreatPlacesInRome #RomanHoliday