{"id":9551,"date":"2022-01-27T15:11:22","date_gmt":"2022-01-27T15:11:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/piazza-di-spagna-rome\/"},"modified":"2024-09-11T13:17:08","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T13:17:08","slug":"piazza-di-spagna-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/en\/piazza-di-spagna-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"Piazza di Spagna in Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Located in the heart of Rome’s historic centre, at the crossroads of the capital’s most exclusive shopping streets, Piazza di Spagna is a must-see for any visitor exploring the Eternal City! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow the guide! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Insider<\/strong> Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Top tip:<\/strong> Free guided city tour<\/a> (in English)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accommodations:<\/strong> all our tips recommendations <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plan your stay:<\/strong> the complete guide to Rome<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visiting Rome with children:<\/strong> all our tips<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A Brief history of Piazza di Spagna<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At the end of the 15th<\/sup> century, Saint Francis of Paola, founder of the Order of Minims, acquired a vineyard with the support of King Charles VIII of France to build a convent: the Convent of the Trinit\u00e0 dei Monti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the 16th<\/sup> century, a church adjoining the monastery was constructed at the request of King Louis XII of France and completed by Italian architects Giacomo della Porta and Carlo Maderno.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the beginning of the 17th<\/sup> century, Spain established its embassy to the Holy See on the square located below the Church of Trinit\u00e0 dei Monti, giving it the name Piazza di Spagna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Piazza<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The now-famous Fontana della Barcaccia, designed by architects Pietro Bernini (the father) and Gian Lorenzo Bernini (the son), was installed on the square in 1629.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the 18th<\/sup> century, the streets surrounding Piazza di Spagna became a cosmopolitan hub of Rome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Spanish Steps (Scalinata<\/em> di Trinit\u00e0 dei Monti<\/em>), funded by the French under the direction of Cardinal Pierre Gu\u00e9rin de Tencin, were built between 1723 and 1726 to connect the Spanish Embassy to the Church of Trinit\u00e0 dei Monti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The obelisk was placed at the top of the stairs in 1789, while the Column of the Immaculate Conception was erected facing the Palazzo di Propaganda Fide in 1854.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Piazza di Spagna is also known for hosting the legendary English poet John Keats in the final days of his life. He spent his last days at number 26 of the square, where he died of tuberculosis on February 24, 1821, at the age of 25.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visiting Piazza di Spagna<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Church of Trinit\u00e0 dei Monti<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Perched on the Pincio Hill overlooking Piazza di Spagna, the Church of Trinit\u00e0 dei Monti is one of the five French churches in Rome<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recognizable by its fa\u00e7ade flanked by two symmetrical bell towers, the Church of Trinit\u00e0 dei Monti was fully restored in 1816 on the orders of King Louis XVIII, more than three centuries after its construction in 1495.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside, the church features several notable artworks worth seeing, including The Deposition by Daniele da Volterra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In front of the church, don’t miss the Obelisk of Trinit\u00e0 dei Monti, built during the imperial Roman era in the style of Egyptian obelisks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Piazza<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Spanish Steps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nicknamed the Spanish Steps, though they were built by the French, the Scalinata di Trinit\u00e0 dei Monti<\/em> links the church to the Piazza di Spagna below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Designed by architects Francesco de Sanctis and Alessandro Specchi, this vast baroque staircase has a total of 135 steps, divided by three terraces symbolizing the Holy Trinity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The staircase is particularly magnificent in spring when it is adorned with blooming azaleas\u2014a true marvel!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Fontana della Barcaccia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Located at the foot of the Spanish Steps, in the middle of Piazza di Spagna, the Fontana della Barcaccia (Fountain of the Old Boat) is the work of sculptors Pietro and Gian Lorenzo Bernini.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Installed in 1626, this baroque masterpiece represents a leaking boat, an allegory of the dramatic flood that struck Rome in the winter of 1598 following a violent rise of the Tiber River.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commissioned by Pope Urban VIII\u2014a member of the Barberini family\u2014the sculpture is adorned with his coat of arms: the papal tiara, as well as the sun and bees, symbols of the Barberini family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Fontana<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Column of the Immaculate Conception<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Erected in 1854, facing the Palazzo di Propaganda Fide, the Column of the Immaculate Conception is located in Piazza Mignanelli, which extends from Piazza di Spagna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Designed by architect Luigi Poletti, the column celebrates the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception under Pope Pius IX (following a heated debate that agitated the Church for several centuries).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The column features a marble base supporting a nearly 12-meter-high cipollino marble column, topped by a bronze statue of the Virgin Mary by sculptor Giuseppe Obici. The marble base is adorned with four statues representing King David, the prophet Isaiah, the prophet Ezekiel, and Moses.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Famous Palaces of Piazza di Spagna<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Among the beautiful warm-toned buildings bordering Piazza di Spagna, two deserve special attention:<\/p>\n\n\n\n