The Spanish Steps Area (Piazza di Spagna).

Even before the 17th Century, when Spain's ambassador had his embassy on the Square, the Spanish Steps area was already the center of attention. For centuries the square also formed part of the "Grand Tour" of wealthy European aristocrats. The British were so numerous that the Spanish steps area was dubbed "The Ghetto of the English". Goethe was so charmed with Rome and in particular with Via del Corso that he wrote: "Certainly, people out of Rome have no idea how one is schooled here. One has to be born again, so to speak, and one learns to look back on one's old ideas as upon the shores of childhood".

Trinita dei Monti watches over the Spanish Steps, Rome Italy.

Street Map of Rome Italy: The Spanish Steps Area

Click for larger street map of the Spanish steps area.

(This street map connects with the Popolo, Pantheon, Trevi and Veneto street map.
View all of the Street Maps Rome Italy together.)

The area is pedestrian friendly and along with the Piazza del Popolo many of the roads are closed to traffic. The pedestrians pulse through the narrow streets that criss cross the spanish steps area, they are like the blood that pumps through the veins of the mother of all shopping monsters.

At the top of the Steps and along the street 'Viale della Trinita' dei Monti' you will find the entrance to the relaxing Borghese gardens. It may come in handy.

What to see?

At the top of the Spanish steps you find the church of the Trinita' dei Monti, however most stand with their back to it as the views over Rome from the hill are spectacular.

At the bottom of the steps in Piazza di Spagna you will find 'La Fontana della Barcaccia' designed by Bernini. The name literally means "ugly boat". Less to do with the design and more to do with the limitation of pressure from the old Roman Acqueduct that still supplies a trickle of water. The boat lies half submerged in the fountain.

Just off the Piazza di Spagna to the right you will find the giant 'Colonna dell'Immacolata', a Roman column which supports a statue of the Virgin Mary.

The sights, sounds and smells are magnificent in the Piazza di Spagna area but there's another reason why many flock here...

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Shopping in the Spanish Steps area: vini, vidi, VISA.

If the Via del Babuino, Via del Corso and Via di Ripetta are the primary arteries in this shopping monster then Via dei Condotti, stretching from Piazza di Spagna to the Pantheon area, is the Aorta.

Big Italian brand shopping is the game and many of the Italians decorating the sidewalks look like models for the latest fashion gurus. Gucci, Bulgari, Prada, Versace and Giorgio Armani are names thrown around like accusations at an Italian political campaign.
Luckily the Via del Babuino and Via di Ripetta are jam packed with lesser known (and therefore more economical) shops of antiquities, arts and crafts - for plebs like me.

Views from the Trinita' dei Monti

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Getting to and from the Spanish Steps area.

Rome Metro: Spagna is the only Metro station that connects the area.

From Spagna you can either head across the Tevere towards the Vatican City or in the other direction towards Piazza Barberini, Piazza della Repubblica and lastly Termini Station.
For more information about the Metro see my dedicated page on the Rome Metro.

Rome buses:

• The No. 117 takes you from Via del Corso to the ancient Roman Colosseum and passes Trevi Fountain and Piazza Venezia along the way.
• The 119 Electric bus will also take you to Piazza Venezia and Piazza di Campo dè Fiori, and also back to Piazza del Popolo.

For more about the buses in Rome see my dedicated page Rome buses and Rome public transport.

Rome taxi: There is a main taxi rank just off Piazza di Spagna at the "Colonna dell'Immacolata" and a little further down the same road (Via del Giubbonari) at Largo del Tritone (towards the Via Veneto area).

Rome tourist buses: There are two main stops for most of the tourist buses (refer to the street map at the top of this page):

• Largo del Tritone
• and the Augustus Mausoleum

Note: If you haven't read about it on my site already then ATAC public transportation in Rome site has a great tool to calculate the quickest route from point A to point B anywhere in Rome. When you arrive at the website click on the English language option to the right. Fill in your departure address and arrival address.

• Rome buses
• Rome trams
• Rome Metro

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Restaurants and nightlife in the Spanish Steps area.

For your meals do try to stay away from the tourist areas, and in particular the squares (piazzas), they are notorious for exhorbitant prices and mediocre food - which in Rome constitutes a crime!

The area is known more for its shopping and daytime activities, so in order to burn off a little steam at night you need to head off to the Navona, Campo dè Fiori and Trastevere areas.

For more advice about eating out in Rome visit my Rome restaurants page and also the Rome restaurant guide page for advice and tips from visitors to this site.

Finished with the Spanish Steps area? Click on an area of the map below to visit another area.