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. The northern part of the complex is occupied by an original fountain, Spanish steps and church. The southern block houses the Palace of Spain and sculptural compositions. Streets with shops of popular clothing brands start from the square.
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 and hotel complexes in the location, 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 leading up to the New Year, the architectural ensemble organizes colorful Christmas performances.
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. The complex offers panoramic views of 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. Architectural project 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. Original design solution bears the name Barcaccia (translated from Italian as “longboat”), which was assigned to the project as evidence of what happened in late XVI century (1598) floods. 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.
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 Medici family castle 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.
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 area is recommended as the beginning of a journey 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. The poet D. Keats rented a house in a house next to the Spanish Steps in 1821; the museum exhibition is still in operation; the mansion is called the “Keats House.”
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Piazza di Spagna is located relatively close to the Trevi Fountain, so on the first evening in Rome we decided to walk around the city at night and walk from Trevi to Piazza di Spagna. After 15 minutes we were already in one of the most picturesque squares in Rome. The square got its name from the Spanish embassy building located on it. In the center of the square is the famous Boat Fountain by Pietro Bernini, made together with his son, the famous Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1627-1629). This is, indeed, a living and figurative embodiment of a sinking boat, with streams of water flowing from the stern and bow.
The fountain got its name “Barcaccia” (longboat) due to its shape of a half-submerged boat and was installed in memory of the flood that happened in 1598, when a boat ran aground in a flooded square. The fountain is supplied with water from the ancient Aqua Virgo aqueduct.
In the foreground is the Barcaccia Fountain, in the form of a boat, and in the distance near the Palace of Spain rises the marble “Column of the Immaculate”, embodying the idea of the Immaculate Conception and the figure of the Virgin Mary at the top of the monument. She stands on a ball and a crescent - symbols of the top of the world. Under her feet is a serpent, which since ancient times has been associated with original sin, but here it is defeated.
The pedestal of the column is also marble, with figures installed on it biblical prophets Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel and the great King David. They not only decorate the column, but also serve as additional supports for it.
On right hand A wreath of flowers always hangs near the statue. Moreover, it is not bronze or plastic, but real. Every year, on December 8, the Pope comes to this square with a wreath of fresh flowers. As a rule, these are white lilies - a symbol of purity. These flowers with crane They are placed on the hand of the Virgin Mary and there they hang for a whole year - until the next ceremony.
This column, dedicated to the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary, was installed in Piazza di Spagna in 1854. Unlike christian church Catholics firmly believe that the Virgin Mary was also conceived outside of sin.
On this occasion, I remember the story of the guide in the Vatican. She cited the motto of Italian students: “Sin without conceiving, and conceiving without sin!”
Piazza di Spagna is also famous for its Spanish Steps, the steps of which rise up to Piazza Trinito dei Monti.
The Spanish Steps, built in Rome more than three centuries ago, is a famous architectural monument whose history can impress everyone. It received its name thanks to the idea of the French ambassador to Rome, Etienne Geffier, who proposed to connect the Trinita dei Monti church and the Spanish Square as a sign of the unbreakable union of the French and Spanish powers.
And this idea so captured the imagination of the representative of France that he decided to create a monumental structure at his own expense, which he announced in his will, allocating 20,000 crowns for the construction of the staircase.
The well-known Cardinal Mazarin also took part in the construction of the Spanish Steps, thanks to whom the top of the structure was crowned with a statue Louis XIV. It is interesting that some documents that have come down to posterity since those times indicate the cardinal’s intention to realize the ambassador’s dream not in Rome, but in Italy. Having learned about this, the Pope was very angry at the mere thought that the top of Pincio Hill in Rome would be crowned with a statue of the French king. Of course, the staircase construction project was rejected, but only for a while.
Already in 1717 it was launched again, but architectural ensemble was erected according to the sketches of Francesco de Sanctis, an unknown architect at that time. The construction of the structure continued for two years and in 1725 the Spanish Steps appeared in Rome, but without the statue of Louis XIV: at the site of its supposed placement there are attributes of papal power - an eagle and a crown, as well as symbols of the royal house of Bourbon.
The construction begins in Piazza de Spagna, from the middle of which it rises up to the Pincio hill. The Spanish Steps are made of travertine and have 138 steps, each of which has a concave shape and different lengths. Designed by the architect de Sanctis, the building has only undergone one restoration, which was carried out in our time in 1997, and it seems that the second restoration is now taking place in 2016, since the staircase is closed to the public and we were not able to climb 138 steps. It’s a pity, we specially trained before our trip to Chisinau on our granite staircase near Komsomolskoye Lake, which has 218 steps.
If we managed to rise, then to top platform From the Spanish Steps, in front of the church of Trinita dei Monti, we would see the obelisk of Sallust. The dark obelisk is visible in the photo against the background of the white church.
The Obelisk of Sallust is an ancient Roman imitation of Egyptian designs, made during the era of the Empire. Then the obelisk was located in the luxurious gardens of Sallust, located north of the city. The Romans “copied” the hieroglyphs on it from an Egyptian prototype of the 13th century BC, which they brought from Heliopolis and installed in the Circus Maximus.
The obelisk of Sallust was damaged during the sack of Rome by the Goths in 410. And at the end of the 18th century Giovanni Antinori installed it in this place. In addition to the cross, the lily of the French kings was added to the bouquet on top of the obelisk.
This ended our walk through the night in Rome, and we took the metro to get to the hotel.
April, 2016
(Various Internet sources were used in writing this essay)
"You can take the whole world, but leave Italy to me"
Giuseppe Verdi
More details about walks in Italy can be found in the book: " ITALIAN HOLIDAYS"
This book can serve as a short guide to Italy in 7 days:
Three days in Rome(Piazza Venice. Piazza Navona. Trevi Fountain. Piazza di Spagna. Capitoline Hill. Roman Forum. Colosseum and Triumphal arches. The mouth of truth. Bridges and embankment of the Tiber. Pantheon and Rotunda Square. Roman Castles (Castelli Romani). Appian Way. Grottaferrata, Crypt Ferrata. Frascati. Castel Gandolfo. Tuskul. Streets of Rome.
Two days in Florence: Church of Santa Maria Novella. Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Baptistery of San Giovanni. Republic Square. Piazza della Signoria. Ponte Vecchio. Uffizi Gallery. Basilica of San Lorenzo. Santa Croce (“Holy Cross”) Piazzale Michelangelo. Palazzo Pitti.
One day in Venice: Murano. St. Mark's Square and Cathedral. City Tour.
I also included in the book tourist routes, very interesting and little known to a wide range of travelers. I hope that the book will also arouse interest among those who have already visited these places, and they will be pleased to once again mentally walk through familiar places, remember and compare this virtual trip with their own impressions of this amazing and beautiful Italy.
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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 destinations in . 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 tourist attention will be church 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.
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
Piazza di Spagna in Rome is the place where the representation of the kings to the Holy See and the French monarchs who were close to them was located family ties. 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 scudos (the monetary unit of the Papal States until the 19th century) for the construction of a staircase 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 Louis XIV, who ruled the neighboring country. Naturally, such proposals did not arouse enthusiasm among the Pope - the project was shelved until early XVIII centuries.
In 1715, after the death of Louis, the idea of building a staircase was resurrected. A competition was announced for best project, in which the then little-known architect Francesco de Sanctis won in 1717, beating the popular Alessandro Specchi. Sometimes they are mistakenly classified as a “creative couple.” In fact, the architects presented two various project. However, the final version of the Spanish Steps was born in discussions, so Specchi can still be considered a “co-author”. Tourist portal website
Piazza di Spagna and Spanish Steps - engraving by Gianbattista Piranesi Construction work began in 1723. It took Francesco quite a long time to produce 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.
Having replaced the flimsy wooden staircase, the luxurious baroque structure between Piazza di Spagna and Trinity Church has become 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
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
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-sunken 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 of the 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. Latest restoration work were 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
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 Catholic Church 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 a traditional view of virgin birth- a virgin standing on a crescent, which symbolizes the top of the world, tramples a serpent with her foot - 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
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.
IN architectural plan Initially, Trinita dei Monti was 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 unique paintings vaults and walls in the side chapels, made the best masters of its 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 bell towers of the church on both sides of the facade, give the architectural complex lightness and aspiration to the sky. Tourist portal website
Decorated Spanish Steps 
View of Piazza di Spagna from the Spanish Steps
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
Address: Piazza di Spagna, 00187 Roma. Spain metro station (Spagna)
