Spanish Steps
138 steps connect Piazza di Spagna with Trinità dei Monti -- Europe's longest and widest steps, in fact.
At one stage the piazza was divided into 2 parts: the Spanish Square (because the Spanish embassy to the Holy See was located there) and the French Square (as the French ambassador resided there), and curiously, in the 17th Century the whole of the square was considered Spanish territory.
At the foot of the scalinata there is the La Fontana della Barcaccia fountain – the fountain of the “old and not-so-sea-worthy boat”, which is reflected in its design of a half sunken ship.
Today the Spanish Steps provide a useful resting spot for tourists tired of walking around one of the world’s most exclusive shopping areas: Via del Babuino, Via del Corso, Via di Ripetta and Via dei Condotti. Valentino’s HQs are located there as well, in the adjacent Piazza Mignanelli.
It’s a particularly convenient area given the Linea A metro stop – Piazza di Spagna. From here you can walk towards the other major landmarks such as Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Navona and Campo de’ Fiori.
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