The Rome Index
The Spanish Steps
A monumental 18th-century stairway linking Piazza di Spagna to the church of Trinità dei Monti.
The rules
Sitting on the steps has been prohibited since 2019, with fines enforced — a change from decades of the steps as an informal meeting spot.
What's nearby
The surrounding Tridente district holds Rome's grand shopping streets, and the Keats-Shelley House museum sits directly at the foot of the steps.
Best time to visit
Early morning for photos without crowds; the flower displays along the steps change seasonally and are worth timing a visit around in spring.
The name's origin
The 'Spanish' in the name comes from the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See, historically located in the piazza at the base of the steps — the stairway itself was actually funded largely by a French diplomat, a detail that surprises many visitors expecting a more direct Spanish connection.
The Keats-Shelley House
The building immediately to the right of the steps is where the poet John Keats died in 1821, aged 25 — now a small, moving museum dedicated to the English Romantic poets who spent time in Rome. It's easy to miss entirely while focused on the steps themselves.
