SPANISH STEPS

Description

Essentials about the Spanish Steps in brief

The Spanish Steps – it is probably the most famous outdoor staircase in the world and one of the most famous sights of Rome. On the 136 steps that connect the Piazza di Spagna below with the Trinità dei Monti church above, all hell breaks loose at any time of the day and into the night. Both locals and tourists gather here to store the surrounding streets, rest their tired feet, buy a “guaranteed real” Gucci bag, or just watch the Romans make a “bella figura” (and they’re really good at it).

The history of the Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps were built from 1723. It goes back to the urban planning ambitions of Pope Innocent XIII. Before the construction of the stairs, the wildly overgrown slope that descended from the church of Santa Trinità dei Monti to Piazza di Spagna was felt to be an inappropriate end to the now built-up urban area. Very early on, the interests of the pope were joined by those of the French king. A staircase was to provide a ceremonial ascent to the church of Trinità dei Monti, financed by King Louis XII of France. Due to the conflict of interests between the French king and the pope, the completion of the staircase was delayed until 1725. The staircase was supposed to be a French monument, but this could not be combined with the pope’s claim to power. The competition between the king and the pope can still be seen today in the lilies of the French Bourbons on the outer lateral pillars and the eagles as the coat of arms of Pope Innocent XIII on the inner pillars. Lilies and eagles are also repeated on the four spheres at the beginning of the staircase.

The Sun King Louis XIV originally wanted to finish the staircase with an equestrian statue glorifying him. However, this demonstration of power by the French protecting power was unacceptable to the popes. The antagonism between king and pope initially meant that nothing happened. Benedict XIII then enforced in 1721 that the staircase be built in the Roman style. Louis XV had to be satisfied with a commemorative plaque. In 1733, Pope Clement XII wanted to complete the staircase with an obelisk, which would finally demonstrate the power of the popes to France. Due to French protests, however, such plans were rejected for the time being. Only in 1789, when the French Revolution deprived the royal house there of its power, could the obelisk be erected.

The architecture of the Spanish Steps

The construction of the Spanish Steps presented De Sanctis’ architect with considerable difficulties. At the beginning of the staircase, two visual axes meet: on the one hand, the view to the north towards Via del Babuino, and on the other hand, the view to the west towards Via Condotti. The staircase begins with a central rise and two parallel lateral flights. All three meet after a third of the ascent on a first terrace, then separate again and flow around the second terrace wall. This is followed by a narrowing central staircase that divides again before the last terrace wall and finally leads to the church of Trinità dei Monti.

With this tripartite division of the staircase, De Sanctis also made reference to the church on the hill dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The effect of the staircase is further enhanced by the fact that some steps are convex while others are concave. The structure overcomes a height difference of 23 meters, has a length of 68 meters, measures 40 meters wide in the middle terrace and spans 52 meters with the upper staircase divided in two.

The area around the Spanish Steps

The area around Via Condotti street at the foot of the stairs is now a luxurious shopping area with many fashion boutiques. Right next to the Spanish Steps are the Keats-Shelley Museum and Babington’s Tea Room. Both the former home of English writer Percy Bysshe Shelley, where British poet John Keats also lived and died, and the old English Tea Room are witnesses to the international artistic community that lived around Piazza di Spagna in the 18th and 19th centuries.