Walkabout Wednesday: Spanish Steps

Eventually your travels will take you to the Spanish Steps, a staircase leading from a lovely piazza with a relaxing fountain, to a church with an obelisk in front and some beautiful views of the city.

The Spanish Steps have earned their name from the Spanish Embassy in the piazza at the base of the steps, giving the whole area the name, Piazza di Spagna. The fountain was created by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and his son. Adding to the historical color, the British poet Yeats had a home here overlooking the steps.

At the top of the steps sits the Trinita dei Monti church, a Catholic church associated with the French. The obelisk out front is not an Egyptian original, but a Roman creation from the early Empire. The hieroglyphics, however, were copied from an original Egyptian obelisk from the Piazza del Populo down the street.

Although this is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy some gelato, do not sit on the steps; that sort of behavior is forbidden! Take the time to window shop at Bulgari, Saint Lauren, or any of the many upscale shops along the Via dei Condotti that empties into the piazza.

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Are you interested in seeing this?

• Yes!
• If there is time.
• It doesn't really call to me.