Piazza di Spagna in Rome how to get there. Italy. Rome. third walk: from piazza di spagna to piazza navona. History and architecture

And Trevi Fountain- one of the most important attractions in Rome. Located on the square is the famous ladder is one of the most popular tourist places V . The Romans themselves love this place, often choosing the Spanish Steps as a place for meetings and dates.

If you go to Plaza de España from the side, then the first object worthy of attention there will be a tourist Church of the Holy Trinity, which was built by the French at the end of the 16th century. This church is located at the very top of the Spanish Steps and is often photographed.

During the Middle Ages, Piazza di Spagna was the seat of the Spanish embassy at court. This is where the name of the square comes from. Palace of the Spanish Embassy dominated the entire area of Spain.

A little later, this place was chosen by the French, who built Pincio hill Church of the Holy Trinity.

History of the Spanish Steps

In the 17th century it was decided to build monumental staircase, along which it would be convenient for believers to climb to the Church of the Holy Trinity. The Spanish and French diasporas offered their own versions of the staircase design, and each side insisted on its own version, not wanting to give in to the other side. Eventually, the Pope intervened and decided to entrust the construction of the staircase to an architect Francesco de Sanctis.

In 1997 spanish steps was restored.

At the very foot of the stairs is the famous Barcaccia fountain, executed by Pietro Bernini.

One of the most chic streets in Rome begins from the fountain - Via dei Condotti, which houses some of the most expensive shops in the city.

And about 100 meters from the fountain there is the famous Cafe Greco, opened in 1760. At the end of the 18th century, Piazza di Spagna became a favorite place in Rome for traveling English aristocrats, who loved to sit with a cup of tea in this cafe.

There were such great people as Goethe And Schopenhaer, A Gogol I loved coming to this cafe while working on dead souls.

On the south side of Plaza España is Fide Palace, where missionaries were trained before being sent to pagan countries.

Also next to the square is located, installed in 1856 at the direction of Pope Pius IX.

This is one of the most famous fountains in the world. On the spot fountain Even in ancient times there was a spring that fed Rome with water.

Was built in the Baroque era by an architect Nicola Salvi. In the center of the fountain stands the figure of the god Neptune, who drives a cart pulled by a pair of sea horses. Next to Neptune are two statues that are symbols of luxury and health.

Piazza di Spagna and Trevi Fountain on the map of Rome

The Spanish Steps are one of the most unusual attractions in Rome. One of the symbols of the city, it is much younger than the ancient Roman heritage, which attracts the bulk of tourists to the capital. It is also surprising that it bears the name of another country, although it is closely connected with Italian history. Tourist portal website

History of the creation of Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti

Painting of the Trinita dei Monti church before the creation of the Spanish Steps

Piazza di Spagna in Rome is the place where the representation of kings to the Holy See and French monarchs who were closely related to them was located. The latter, moreover, were patrons of the nearby church of Trinita dei Monti. Initially, there was no connecting link between these two objects, but Etienne Geffier, a French diplomat, conceived a project that would connect these two points on the map.

Unfortunately, during his lifetime Geffier did not have time to implement the idea. However, his will indicated a desire to leave 20 thousand crowns ( currency unit Papal States to XIX century) for the construction of stairs between the church and the square. The inheritance of a man who died in the middle of the 17th century. The diplomat attracted the attention of the minister, Cardinal Mazarin. He proposed to crown the staircase with an equestrian statue of the ruler of neighboring country Louis XIV. Naturally, such proposals did not arouse enthusiasm among the Pope - the project was shelved until the beginning of the 18th century.

In 1715, after the death of Louis, the idea of building a staircase was resurrected. A competition was announced for the best project, which was won in 1717 by the then little-known architect Francesco de Sanctis, beating the popular Alessandro Specchi. Sometimes they are mistakenly classified as a “creative couple”. In fact, the architects presented two different designs. However, the final version of the Spanish Steps was born in discussions, so Specchi can still be considered a “co-author”. Tourist portal website

Construction of the Spanish Steps

Piazza di Spagna and Spanish Steps - engraving by Gianbattista Piranesi

Construction work began in 1723. It took Francesco quite a lot of time to make the necessary calculations - it was necessary to strengthen the hillside, prepare the area, and select materials. Construction took two years. The resulting Spanish Steps has 135 steps (the 136th is sometimes mistakenly called the drainage ledge, and in many publications the staircase is generally described as consisting of 138 steps). For the construction, a traditional stone for the Italian architectural school was used - travertine.

Replaced the flimsy wooden staircase with a luxurious baroque structure between Spanish Square and the Trinity Church became as integral an element of the image of Rome as, or.

It is interesting that, despite the refusal to erect a monument in honor of the French king, the attributes of the monarchy of this country still found their place in the decoration of the Spanish Steps. For decorations, images of the coat of arms of the French branch of the Bourbon royal family were used. Also in the ornament you can see symbols of papal power - an eagle and a crown.

Having become the subject of disputes between the Franco-Spanish community of Rome and the papacy, the staircase remained an object that was ignored by the city authorities in subsequent years. This allowed it to largely preserve its original appearance to this day - restoration was carried out only in the 90s of the last century. In 1997, when the renovated Spanish Steps was reopened, streams of citizens and tourists flocked here. Tourist portal website

Near the first step of the Spanish Steps

The Square of Spain (Piazza di Spagna), from which the Spanish Steps lead up to the church, is located in the very center. Since 1620, the most beautiful palace in Spain has been located here, but this is far from the only attraction in the space of the square, consisting of two unequal triangles.

Rome - Piazza di Spagna - Fontana della Barcaccia
Rome - Barcaccia Fountain at the foot of the Spanish Steps

Barcaccia Fountain - Fontana della Barcaccia

One of the most interesting objects here is the Barcaccia Fountain, located at the foot of the Spanish Steps, whose full name, Fontana della Barcaccia, is translated into Russian as “ugly boat”. This Baroque fountain was built by Pietro Bernini in 1627, commissioned by Pope Urban VIII. The half-submerged longboat should remind residents of the capital of the flood of 1598, when the Tiber overflowed so much that it overflowed its banks and flooded the center Italian capital. Then a boat was discovered on the square, which became the prototype of the monument. By the way, Bernini not only built a fountain, but also restored a system of canals that were supposed to provide water to new areas of the city.

The construction of the fountain was fraught with some difficulties - it is filled with water by the Aqua Virgo, an ancient aqueduct built in 19 BC. Since the water pressure in it is low, the structure had to be built below the level of the square, very close to the steps of the Spanish Steps. The fountain was restored several times, but still retained the appearance that was given to it by the author. The last restoration work was carried out in 2014, when 200,000 euros of private donations were spent on them. And a year later, the structure was damaged by Dutch fans who came to Italy to support their football team. Tourist portal website

Rome - Piazza di Spagna - Column of the Immaculate
Rome - Piazza di Spagna - Colonna dell’Immacolata

Column of the Immaculate - Colonna dell’Immacolata

In the southern part of the square, in front of the palace, in 1854 the “Colonna dell’Immacolata” was installed, designed by the famous Italian architect Luigi Poletti. The construction of the column was timed to coincide with the proclamation by the Catholic Church of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. The construction site was not chosen by chance - Spain was the country that most actively contributed to its adoption. The column is a bronze statue of the Virgin Mary raised on a marble column 11.81 meters high. All this is installed on a marble pedestal (the total height is almost 29 meters). It is interesting that the part of the column that supports the statue was not made specifically for this object, but was discovered in one of the monasteries on the Campus Martius in 1777.

The sculpture demonstrates the traditional view of the Immaculate Conception - a virgin standing on a crescent, which symbolizes the top of the world, trampling with her foot a serpent - original sin. At the foot of the column you can see four more statues - David, Moses, Ezekiel, Isaiah. It also contains bas-reliefs depicting dogma. Every year on December 8th since 1923, firefighters have delivered a wreath of white lilies here to place on the hand of the Virgin Mary, and since 1953 the Pope has always been present at this event. Tourist portal website

At the top of the Spanish Steps - Trinita dei Monti
Church of Santissima Trinità al Monte Pincio inside

Trinita dei Monti

The top of the Spanish Steps ends at the base of the Santissima Trinità al Monte Pincio church, construction of which began in 1502. Its appearance became possible thanks to Louis XI, who by that time was already ill. The monarch was very close to the founder of the Minim order, St. Francis, who became his spiritual mentor. In gratitude for the closeness to last days During the life of the king, the son of Louis paid for the construction of two monasteries for the order, one of which was erected in Rome.

However, there is a more prosaic version of the appearance of the church - it is assumed that this is how Louis XII wanted to celebrate the French victory in Naples. One way or another, work on the construction of the temple continued until 1585, when the church was consecrated in honor of the Trinity.

Architecturally, Trinita dei Monti was initially an exclusively Gothic building, but as a result of the fact that construction lasted for many years, the temple also acquired features of the Romanesque style. The facade of the church is heavily influenced by the Baroque. However, the original appearance of the church has been lost - after Italy was occupied by Napoleon's troops, the church was seriously destroyed. The restoration of 1816 required significant reconstruction of the building.

Obelisk in front of the Trinita dei Monti church
Painting of the vaults in Trinita dei Monti

The interior decoration of the church may seem quite modest, which is generally typical of Catholic churches. Its true wealth is the unique paintings of the vaults and walls in the side chapels, made by the best masters of their time. Here, for example, you can see Volterra's masterpiece, probably created from a sketch by Michelangelo.

In front of the church there is an obelisk that appeared long before the temple itself, the square and the Spanish Steps - it was built in ancient times for the gardens of Sallustian. The column is decorated with hieroglyphs copied from similar obelisks from the times of Seti I and Ramess II, which occupied the space in front of ancient Egyptian temples. The 13-meter building, together with the two church bell towers on either side of the façade, gives architectural complex lightness and aspiration to the sky. Tourist portal website

Decorated Spanish Steps
View of Piazza di Spagna from the Spanish Steps

Spanish Steps today

Today, the Spanish Steps are one of the most popular tourist sites in Rome, attracting thousands of tourists every day. Therefore, it is better to enjoy its beauty early in the morning. Along with numerous attractions, the Spanish Steps are included in the list of must-see tourist places.

The Spanish Steps are often used for festive events - fashion shows by the houses of Valentino and Dolce&Gabbana, theatrical performances, and concerts. The last restoration of the Spanish Steps took place in 2016 and was sponsored by Dolce&Gabbana.

Contrary to the common practice in Europe and the USA of snacking on stairs, you will not be able to eat your sandwiches on the steps - this is prohibited by city regulations. This was done to keep the steps clean. And although after the restoration of the monument they monitor it even more carefully, it is not possible to overcome this addiction with fines. In this connection, the City Hall of Rome has come up with a way that will not allow people to sit on the steps of the Spanish Steps for a snack - pour water on them. Tourist portal website

In the 17th century, the area around the embassy and the square was considered to belong to Spain, despite its location in the heart of the Italian capital. There was an impact on European life Bourbon dynasty.
The architecture of the Spanish Steps has attracted numerous artists. It is not surprising that beautiful women also flocked here, hoping that painters would notice them and offer them work as models. This, in turn, attracted tourists and wealthy Romans: very soon the staircase became one of the busiest places in the city. Today it is often used for making dates or simply as a meeting place.
Despite the fact that the Spanish Steps are revered by Italians as one of the main decorations of the capital, it is not without sad incidents. So, in 2007, several of its steps were damaged during the “experiment” of a drunk driver who tried to go down it in his Toyota Celica. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and the offender himself was arrested.
On the square there is a museum dedicated to the English writer John Keats, the most famous poet of the Victorian era. On the right side of the square, the house in which Keats lived and died in 1821 has been preserved.
The first McDonald's restaurant in Italy was opened in 1986, 150 meters from the Spanish Steps. This caused numerous protests. Three years later, journalist Carlo Petrini, outraged by such a brazen invasion of fast food into Roman history, created the “slow food” organization.
However, there is a place to relax and have a snack - at the foot of the stairs there has been an “English teahouse” since 1896, where you can feel like you are in Victorian Britain, since the owners strictly adhere to the rules of the tea ceremony of those years. And nearby is the oldest cafe in Rome - “Cafe Brera - Antico Caffe Greco”, which has been operating for more than 250 years - since 1760.
The Spanish Steps became widely known after the release of the film “Roman Holiday”, where it became the meeting place for the heroes of Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck.
The seasonal decorations of the Spanish Steps change its appearance throughout the year. For example, in the spring, the staircase is filled with blooming pink azaleas for a month, which are displayed in vases for April 21, the founding day.

Plaza de España and Spanish Steps on video:

Address: Piazza di Spagna, 00187 Roma. Spain metro station (Spagna)

We started our second day in Rome from Piazza di Spagna. As all guidebooks write and compatriots who have visited Rome say, this square is a must-visit tourist attraction. What pleased me immediately when I got there was the seller of roasted chestnuts, because again, these chestnuts are a must-have Italian delicacy for tourists.

After trying chestnuts, I realized that I don’t want to be a tourist :)

On piazza di Spagna there is a monument in the form of a half-submerged boat, which was sculpted by the famous Bernini. I learned from a guidebook that this is Bernini and that he is famous :) But that’s not all: Bernini is not one architect, but two – father and son. So, Bernini the father is simply famous because he is the author of this monument-boat, and Bernini the son is even more famous because he worked on a cooler object - the square near St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

However, this is not what I found interesting. It turns out that this fountain monument (its name is Barkacha) is still supplied with water by an ancient aqueduct that was opened in 19 BC! This aqueduct is called Aqua Virgo, that is, in Russian - water of the virgin. According to legend, it was a virgin who indicated the source of water for this aqueduct.

We climb the Spanish Steps (also a landmark, and also famous)...

... and we see the most important French church in Rome.

Inside the church there is an interesting wall painting. One gets the feeling that it was not icons that were painted here, but paintings.

The place where the church stands offers a picturesque view.

Let's move on to the next attraction - the Trevi Fountain:

For me, this fountain turned out to be unusual in that it does not stand on its own, but as if it were a wall of a building. Maybe that's why it looks impressive:

A funny detail - almost from this fountain, the fashion began to throw a coin in order to return later. Moreover, here this ritual, it turns out, is seriously developed: it all depends on how many coins are thrown. One coin means you will come to Rome again, two means a love meeting, three coins means wait for a wedding, four means wealth, five means separation. As a result, utility workers extract €3,000 a day from the fountain, according to some sources, and €700,000 a year, according to others.

We walk further. Cute streets...

...take us away from the route described in the guidebook, as a result of which we end up in Piazza Colonna. It is named after the column that stands in the center of the square and is dedicated to Marcus Aurelius. The column is hollow, inside - spiral staircase and before (a long time ago) tourists could climb to the very top of the column. Based on this, two consequences arose: 1) the popularity of climbing the column led to the fact that the right to charge for entrance rent was put up for auction annually; 2) the statue of Marcus Aurelius was lost by the sixteenth century. And now, despite the fact that in Italian the column is still called Colonna Aureliana, it is crowned with a statue of the Apostle Paul:

By the way, the Apostle Paul either shows with his hand or blesses the people who are sitting in former palace Montecitorio. Or rather, they do not sit, but sit, because now the Italian Chamber of Deputies works here.

We go further and go out to Peter's Square (piazza di Pietra). The facade of the Temple of Hadrian overlooks this square:

Hadrian was a Roman emperor and became famous for 1) being the first emperor to grow a beard and 2) his same-sex love for the boy Antinous. In general, same-sex relationships among the emperors of Rome were considered in the order of things, but on this basis it was Hadrian who went completely crazy: after the death of his lover, the emperor ordered that Antinous be considered a god, name a constellation in his honor, and build the city of Antinupolis, where games were held every year in honor of the young man. God, and generally ordered statues of his lover to be erected throughout the empire.

The guidebook is modestly silent about the Temple of Hadrian, so we continue along the narrow and pretty streets...

...and we find ourselves on Rotunda Square. In the nineteenth century, there was a large poultry market in this square. An English traveler in 1820 describes the square as “the most disgusting place imaginable: continuous noise, crowds of beggars, lack of sewerage; It’s impossible for an Englishman to even imagine such vile dirt, stench and puddles of sewage that exist in the Rotunda Square.”

Now it’s clean here, but you can still hear the noise and commotion. And this is not surprising: in the square there are crowds of tourists who are attracted here by one of the main attractions of Rome - the Pantheon:

This is practically the only temple that has been preserved practically as it was built (and it was built no less, but more than 2200 years ago - in the second century BC). Moreover, it was preserved thanks to Christianity. The funny thing about the situation is that it was built as a temple dedicated to all gods (not at all Christian, but quite the opposite, pagan) - hence the name, Pantheon - and Christianity re-consecrated it as the Church of all martyrs.

Moreover, the day when Christianity decided to make this temple its own is immortalized in religion and is celebrated every year as All Saints' Day.

After sitting inside the Pantheon on the benches and having a little rest, we move on...

and we get into final destination this route is Piazza Navona.

Now there are a lot of artists with their works on it.

An interesting legend is about the martyr, after whom the church located on the square is named.

Her name was Agnes (then the prefix Saint was added to the name), and the son of a local official was inflamed with passion for her. However, Agnes by that time was already a Christian, and in addition, she decided to become the “bride of God” - well, that is, with no one. And this son of the prefect coveted her body so much that after she refused, he ran to complain to his dad. Dad got angry and offered Agnes a choice - either she makes a sacrifice to the Roman gods (well, that is, she renounces her faith), or she goes to work in a brothel. Agnes, naturally, chooses a brothel. Then the prefect says to her: “They will take you there naked.” Well, let's go. And then miracles after miracles begin: first, Agnes becomes Rapunzel - as soon as her clothes were torn off, her hair instantly grew on her head to such an extent that she was able to cover her body with it. Then the men who wanted to go to the brothel with her Togo, began to go blind or die. This is such a legend.

However, the Church of St. Agnes is not the most famous attraction of the square. And the fountains.

Photos taken April 20, 2011.

They are written in detail in the guide book, so I won’t repeat them.

The final photo of this post will be the composition “Fountain and Doves”:

The most beautiful photos of other posts - follow the link to the album on Facebook.

About other Italian impressions and photographs—.

Our route and information from the guidebook:

Let's start with Plaza de España - piazza di Spagna[Piazza di Spagna], which received its name from the palace of the Spanish Ambassador to the Vatican. Perhaps this is one of the most romantic places in Rome. Piazza di Spagna is a favorite place for both tourists and Romans. Here, on the most beautiful staircase, built in the Baroque style in 1723 - 1726. De Sanctis, artists from all over the world sell their works and offer to paint your portrait on the spot.

In the center of the square there is a half-submerged boat and a fountain. Barcaccia[Barcaccia], an elegant work by Bernini the Father (17th century). One of the strong floods brought a boat here from the Tiber. The water receded, and the sculptor who saw this left us with a memory of the lovely “Boat”.

In May there is usually a flower show, and then the staircase lined with lush azaleas seems to lead to a fairy tale. The staircase ends with the double-domed Church of the Holy Trinity on the Mountains - Trinita dei Monti[Trinita dei Monti]. This is the main French church in Rome, built at the end of the 15th century. for the Order of St. Francis. In the 19th century was restored. To the left of the church is the Villa Medici (1544), built by the architect A. Lippi. In the 17th century the palace became the residence of the cardinals of the Medici family, and in 1803, at the direction of Napoleon, the French Academy, founded for French artists by Louis XIV in 1666, was moved here.

Walking through via Due Macelli[via due Macelli] and turning right onto via del Tritone[via del Tritone], on the left we will see the most famous and, perhaps, the most beautiful of the 400 Roman fountains - Trevi - Trevi[Travi]. Created by the architect Salvi in the mid-18th century. in the late Baroque style (and is its best example) on the site of an older fountain. The fountain is adjacent to the Poli Palace, which belonged to Princess Volkonskaya and where N.V. Gogol visited when he lived in Rome. The fabulous chariot of Ocean (sculptor Bracci) emerges from the arch of the palace facade, the horses are led by Naiad and Triton. On the sides of the arch in niches there are statues of “Health” (right) and “Abundance” (left). Above them are bas-reliefs telling the story of a Roman girl who showed thirsty soldiers a source at the crossroads of three roads (in Italian - tre vie). There is also an image of Marcus Agrippa (1st century), under whom an aqueduct was built from this source. Water from the aqueduct still fills the Trevi Fountain. There is a custom: when leaving Rome, throw a coin into the fountain to return again. The fountain has become a symbol of the Eternal City for tourists.

By via delle Muratte[via delle Muratte] we go out to piazza di Pietra[piazza di Pietra] and via Pastini[via Pastini] on piazza Rotonda[Piazza Rotonda]. Here is the Pantheon - Pantheon[The Pantheon] is the only structure that has come down to us almost in its original form. It was built in 27 BC. e. consul Marcus Agrippa, son-in-law of Augustus, and is dedicated to 7 main gods - Apollo, Diana, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Zeus and Saturn, hence - Pantheon (All Gods). And in 125, Emperor Hadrian reconstructed a mausoleum for his family on its ancient foundation. The Pantheon was consecrated in 606 as Christian church St. Virgin Mary. The bronze doors are authentic. Inside, the Pantheon produces an amazing sense of harmony thanks to its perfect proportions. The dome, with a diameter of 43.30 m, almost equal to the height of the building, inspired Michelangelo to create the beautiful dome of St. Peter's Basilica. Since 1870, the kings of Italy have chosen the Pantheon as their mausoleum. Now the Pantheon houses the tombs of the great Raphael and the kings of Italy.

By via Giustiani[via Giustiani] let's get to Corso del Rinascimento[Corso del Rinashchimento], we will cross it and reach piazza Navona[Piazza Navona]. This is the most beautiful square in Rome with picturesque houses, a Baroque church Sant'Agnese in Agone[Santagnese in Agone] Borromini and Bernini's fountains. The square was decorated during the heyday of the Baroque, in the mid-17th century, by the most prominent representatives of this style in Rome and constant rivals in art - Bernini and Borromini.

In 1651, in the center of the square, a Fountain of the Four Rivers(Bernini). The unusually picturesque fountain is decorated with allegorical figures symbolizing the four continents and their great rivers - the Danube in Europe, the Nile in Africa, the Ganges in Asia and the Rio de la Plata in America. In the center is an Egyptian obelisk that once adorned the Circus of Maxcentius.

Ethiopian Fountain—the sculpture of the Negro is also by Bernini, and the bowl is by Giacomo della Porta. Bowl Neptune fountain- later, 1878 (Della Bitta and Zappala).

The square is located on the former stadium (circus) of Domitian (1st century) and has retained its shape, similar to a ship ( nave in Italian). During the Christmas holidays, a large market of toys and confectionery opens here.

Piazza di Spagna in Rome is located in the central part of the Italian capital. The architectural ensemble was formed in the 17th century and has a complex geometric shape. The landmark is named after the building of the Spanish mission. Northern part The complex is occupied by an original fountain, the Spanish Steps and a church. The southern block houses the Palace of Spain and sculptural compositions. Streets with shops of popular clothing brands start from the square.

History of creation

The architectural landmark is located in the center of the Italian capital in the Campo Marzio district. According to historical tradition, the area was reserved for the accommodation of foreign immigrants and guests of the capital. Immigrants from France settled on the hill from which the square originates. In the first half of the 16th century, the Trenita dei Monti Cathedral was built on the territory. Church ceremonies in the temple are carried out in French.

Later, the territory of the square was occupied by English settlers. The historical tradition is associated with the presence of many hotels in the location, hotel complexes, which attracted citizens of foreign countries.

Spanish settlers began to occupy the territory at the beginning of the 17th century. By this period, the state of Spain bought a castle with rich decoration (Monaldeschi) for representation. Over time, for the Romans and guests of the city, the name Spanish Square became attached to the place.

The staircase with Baroque elements also indicates that it belonged to immigrants from Spain. The structure has 138 steps and leads from the square to the Trinita dei Monti temple. The area is located at the base of the stairs, the slabs have different configurations and are lined with travertine.

According to historical tradition, events are held on the site, fashion house shows are organized, and feature films are shot. In the spring, flower exhibitions are held on the stairs, presenting varieties of azaleas, roses, tulips, etc. In the weeks before New Year's architectural ensemble organize colorful Christmas performances.

Attractions

The architectural composition of the square has an unusual configuration, because combines 2 spaces (trapezoidal and unequal triangle). The design of the elements is predominantly baroque. The main historical complexes are represented by the Barcaccia fountain, the long staircase and the Trinita dei Monti temple.

Surround the square with exquisite and original architectural solutions houses preserved from the 18th century. Next to the fountain structure is the Palazzo Di Propaganda Fide, which is owned by the Roman Church. In front of the entrance to the castle there is an 11 m high column with an elegant figure of the Virgin Mary on a pedestal and a sculptural composition of biblical saints at the base.

The Spanish Steps in Rome are one of the symbols of the Italian capital. The Baroque-style attraction consists of more than 130 steps leading from the central part of the square to the picturesque hill and Pincio gardens. Opens from the complex panoramic view to Rome The steps of the attraction have a concave configuration.

The construction project was proposed to create a passage to the temple, which was under the patronage of the kings of France. Construction was carried out with funds left by the French citizen E. Geffier, who served as a diplomat for many years.

A competition for the implementation of the project was organized in 1717; by decision of the commission, the construction of the object was entrusted to the famous sculptors A. Specchi and F. de Sanctis. Construction began in 1723 and was completed in 1726. The composition became a symbol of the political reconciliation of the French and Spanish states.

The design of the steps uses the coat of arms of the Bourbon family (lilies) and signs of papal power (tiara, eagle). The raw material for the steps is stone (travertine). The width of the slabs varies along the staircase from narrow to wide, and the sizes of the spans also vary. Restoration work on the historical landmark was carried out at the end of the 20th century (1997).

The Barcaccia Fountain is located at the base of the Spanish Steps. The architectural project was implemented by P. Bernini in the first half of the 17th century at the request of the Roman authorities. The attraction in the Baroque style is made in the shape of a half-submerged ship. The original design solution is called Barcaccia (translated from Italian as “longboat”), which was assigned to the project as evidence of a flood that occurred at the end of the 16th century (1598). Water enters the structure from the Aqua Virgo canal.

The architectural solution involved solving the technical difficulties of supplying water to the hill area. Berini solved the problem by creating a semi-submerged container into which he placed the sunken ship. The bottom of the fountain is deepened, the stern and bow have the same dimensions and proportions, because raised above the side edges. In the central part of the composition, a balustrade supports an oblong-shaped bathtub, from which streams of water flow and enter the lower part of the composition.

Water flows also flow from 6 other openings directed into a container in the center of the vessel. The composition is decorated with emblems of the Roman church (tiara, bees) with external parties ship.

Church of Trinita dei Monti

The Trinita dei Monti temple was built on a hill, which completes the Spanish Steps. In front of the church there is an obelisk of Sallust, 14 m high. On the left side of the church there is an alley of the same name, famous for the castle of the Medici family located on the territory. The building was built in the 16th century, several decades later it was taken over by the French state and transferred to house the Academy of Fine Arts.

Fashion center of Rome

Plaza de España is not only an architectural landmark. Subsequently, the place became a center for fashion house shows. From the square there are streets with shops of popular clothing brands. Famous Italian fashion designers set up workshops and galleries on the street. Condotti, adjacent to the square. These are brands Valentino, Gucci, etc. The square is recommended as the beginning of a trip to purchase fashionable clothes in the Italian capital.

The streets begin from the square, which display paintings by contemporary Italian masters. According to historical tradition, art workshops are located on the side streets, and talented writers, poets, etc. live here. In one of the houses on the street. Condotti rented the Stendhal apartment, in building No. 17 on the street. N.V. Gogol lived in San Isidoro. In the house next to Spanish steps in 1821 the poet D. Keats rented a house, the museum exhibition is still active, the mansion is called the “Keats House”.