Spanish Steps

Once you climb Europe’s longest outdoor stairs, enjoy a beautiful vista of Rome with St Peter's Basilica in the distance.

TravelCurious Tip

Check out the Piazza di Spagna’s Barcaccia Fountain, whose form of a sinking ship refers to the folk legend of a boat landing here after the 1598 flooding of the Tiber.

Walking Spanish

A walk up the Spanish Steps is undoubtedly one of the most popular forms of exercise for visitors to central Rome. Its 135 steps run from the Piazza di Spagna up to the Trinità dei Monti church, comprising the longest (and widest) flight in Europe - a climb that is well worth the view over the city.

The Spanish Steps were constructed in the 1720s, designed by Francesco de Sanctis and paid for by the French diplomat Stefano Gueffier. Despite being built with French money, the steps soon came to be known as 'Spanish' because of the Bourbon Spanish embassy at the stop.

Steps to greatness

In early years the steps were a common meeting point for artists and poets, including some of the English Romantics; John Keats came in 1820 to recover from tuberculosis, but died here one year later. The house in which he lodged, at the bottom of the steps, is now the Keats-Shelley Memorial House and holds a wonderful collection of manuscripts and memorabilia.

Today the Spanish Steps are still a great place to sit back, relax and watch the well-heeled locals go by. They are particularly beautiful in springtime, when the fanned stairway is bedecked with flowers.

The steps have also provided the stage for some local controversy in recent years. In 2008, artist Graziano Cecchini - who has also turned the Trevi Fountain blood red - released half a million rainbow-coloured balls to bounce down the steps, confusing tourists and leaving many locals unimpressed. In the same year, a man managed to drunkenly drive his car down all 138 steps with the help of some passers-by. Police spokesman Massimo Cozzoli offered some sage advice - ‘you are allowed to go down the Spanish Steps, but not in a car!’

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Rome
Trevi Fountain
A beautiful Baroque fountain, built at the end of an ancient Roman aqueduct.
Piazza del Popolo
The Piazza del Popolo is one of Rome's most beautiful squares, with an important and long-standing history.
Villa Borghese Gardens
A vast and lovely scenic public park, adjoining the Borghese gallery.
Mausoleum of Augustus
Largest circular tomb in the world built by Emperor Augustus in 28 BC
Montecitori Palace
Montecitori Palace or Palazzo Montecitorio is the seat of the Chamber of Deputies
Doria Pamphilj Gallery
Housed within the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj the collection spans centuries, with works dating from the 15th to the 18th century including masterpieces by some of the most renowned artists in history.

Related Tours

Vatican & Colosseum in a Day: Private Full-Day Walking Tour

Experience the magic of Rome with a fully guided walking tour of the most popular highlights of the Eternal City and discover the Colosseum, the historic centre and the Vatican Museums in a day with entrance tickets included.

On your private full-day walking tour, you will:


  • Walk in the footsteps of Gladiators as you explore the Colosseum, the largest standing amphitheatre in the world;
  • Learn about the emperors who built the Flavian Amphitheatre and the opening 100 days of games;
  • See the iconic Triumphal Arch of Constantine, built by Constantine the Great in 315AD;
  • Explore the ruins of the Roman forum, the downtown of Ancient Rome;
  • See the major highlights of Rome’s Centro Storico (historic centre) including the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona;
  • Stop for lunch in one of your guide's favourite haunts (lunch not included in the cost of the tour);
  • Hop in a taxi across town to visit the Vatican Museums;
  • Tour the highlights of the magnificent Vatican Museums, including the Pinecone courtyard, the Laocoön, Galleries of the Maps and Tapestries, and the amazing Raphael Rooms;
  • Marvel at the works of Michelangelo Buonarroti in the Sistine Chapel - the grand finale!;
  • End your tour on the Balcony of the iconic St. Peter's Basilica, after which you are welcome to continue exploring the Basilica at your own leisure.


Discover the religious, historical, and cultural significance of Rome, once the Caput Mundi (head of the world) on this magical full-day privately guided tour.

Walk in the footsteps of slaves and emperors, gladiators and Vestal Virgins, cardinals and artists as your expert guide weaves together the stories that have made Rome the Eternal City.

Relish walking into the Colosseum and step out onto the stage – the most famous monument of the ancient world. Learn about a day in the life of an ancient Roman as you stroll through the Forum admiring the temples and basilicas still standing after two millennia.

Then plunge into the friendly hustle and bustle of ‘modern’ Rome as you walk around the historic centre, taking in such iconic sites as the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona and the mighty Pantheon – the largest man-made cement dome with an oculus in the world. And it was built in the second century!

After a pit stop for lunch, hop in a taxi across town where your guide will lead you through the hallowed halls of the Vatican Museums to wonder and marvel at the masterpieces from antiquity and those extraordinary, god-like rivals of the High Renaissance: Michelangelo and Raphael.

On exiting the Sistine Chapel your tour will end on the iconic balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, after which you will have time to explore the Basilica at your own leisure.

PLEASE NOTE: The order of the itinerary may change based on ticket availability.

Pantheon, Trevi Fountain & Spanish Steps: Private Half-Day Tour

Enjoy a private walking tour in the Heart of Rome, where your private guide will introduce you to the city’s Ancient Roman history and baroque architecture while showing you the Eternal City's major landmarks.

On your private walking tour, you will: 

  • Explore the most popular highlights in Rome's city centre in just 3 hours;
  • Discover Piazza del Popolo and the main entrance to the city during Ancient Rome times;
  • Climb the 135 steps of the magnificent Spanish Steps (if you wish) that lead to the beautiful Trinita Dei Monti Church;
  • Make a wish at the stunning Trevi Fountain and learn about the various myths behind the coins in the fountain; 
  • Pass by the over 2000 years old Pantheon – one of the best-preserved Ancient Roman buildings in existence;
  • Take a stroll through Piazza Navona built on an ancient old stadium in the 1st century AD;
  • Visit Campo de' Fiori, one of Rome's most famous squares famous for its open-air market;
  • Explore Piazza Farnese, home to Palazzo Farnese, a 16th-century Roman building; 
  • Walk across Ponte Sisto, a bridge that connects Rome's city centre with Trastevere.


Sure, you have heard the phrase ‘Rome was not built in a day, but to truly understand that, one must walk the city with an expert to show you the layers of ancient civilization and ruins piled into the now-modern city. Often called the “Eternal City”, Rome is undoubtedly one of the most historically and culturally rich cities in the world. In the heart of Rome, you’ll come across the Pantheon and the Piazza Navona – two landmarks that date back to the Roman Empire; in addition, you’ll have the opportunity to see amazing architecture like the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps from the Rococo (late-Baroque) period.

This three-hour walking tour is designed to give you the perfect overview of the city, as it includes some of the most beautiful attractions in the historic centre. This tour of the heart of Rome– more than any other, mixes the ancient with the late Baroque in a way that only Rome could. It is a great introduction to the magic in Rome. 

The Heart Of Rome: Private Golf Cart Tour

Discover the heart of Rome, as you cruise the most popular attractions and hidden backstreets that only small vehicles or pedestrians can access.

On this private golf cart tour, you will:

  • Visit the magnificent Spanish Steps that lead to the beautiful Trinita Dei Monti Church;
  • Make a wish at the stunning Trevi Fountain and learn about the various myths behind the coins in the fountain;
  • Pass by the over 2000 years old Pantheon – one of the best-preserved Ancient Roman buildings in existence;
  • See the Colosseum (from the outside), Piazza Navona, Piazza Venezia, and Campo De Fiori;
  • Enjoy the personalised attention of a private tour guide;
  • Combine the intimacy of a walking tour with the comfort of a driving tour.

Often referred to as the “Eternal City”, Rome is undoubtedly one of the most historically and culturally vibrant cities in the world. Here, you will come across the Pantheon and the Piazza Navona – two landmarks that date back to the Roman Empire; in addition, you’ll have the opportunity to see the amazing architecture of the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps from the Rococo (late-Baroque) period.

This four-hour golf cart tour is designed to give you a perfect overview of the city: visit the key sites in the centre and be shown all the best hidden haunts and local hangouts that you might otherwise miss. A golf-cart tour allows you to access parts of the city that cars and tour buses cannot.

Stop off at attractions or for gelato whenever you feel like it, go for a wander through Rome’s winding cobbled streets and save your energy for the rest of the day by hopping back on your golf cart, which will be waiting, ready to whisk you away to your next destination.

A great way to experience the magic of Rome in a comfortable and flexible manner – and your experience will be unaffected by the weather! 

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