Via dei Condotti & Spanish Steps
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Spanish Steps - by Shai Pal on Unsplash
Description
The Spanish steps (Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti) are a set of terraced stairs linking Piazza di Spagna and the Trinità dei Monti church, hence the English and Italian names, respectively. The 135 stairs were built in the 1720's and designed by architects Francesco de Sanctis and Alessandro Specchi with inspiration from Donato Bramante's Belvedere Courtyard at the Vatican Palace. At the bottom, the Fontana della Barcaccia marks the start (or end) of Via Condotti, the street of Rome with the highest number of Italian fashion retailers. Famous points of interest include the Antico Caffé Greco (who had patrons such as Stendhal, Byron and Goethe), the Palazzo di Malta, and the Santissima Trinità a Via Condotti (one of the national churches of Spain in Rome).
Access & Transport
Via Condotti intersects Via del Corso at its western end and Piazza di Spagna at the eastern one. The metro station "Spagna" provides immediate access to it and the Spanish Steps. Bus 119 also stops next to the piazza. Wheelchair users will need to use the road (Via si S. Sebastianello) to link the bottom and top of the stairs.
Instructions & Recommendations
Most shops on Via Condotti open around 10h-11h and close around 19h-19h30. Many close on Sunday. Piazza di Spagna is roughly midway between the Trevi Fountain and Pizza del Popolo, an 8-10mins walk each way.
Environmental & Social
Environmentally, there is no data at the neighbourhood level, but it is mostly concrete with no green spaces. From a social perspective, the ever-rising rents has put pressure on small independent businesses
Conclusion
Without being contrarian, objectively the Spanish Steps are completely overhyped - yes, they look cool and distinctive, but don't they pale in comparison with a Colosseum, Borghese Gallery or Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore? What we mean is you should visit if you are in this area, but it isn't a must-see. Via Condotti will be for most an extension of the steps and Piazza di Spagna; it has a few nice buildings and excellent fashion shopping, for those with a significant budget.
Key positive
Excellent fashion designer shopping
Elegant, terraced steps
Key negative
Too touristy
Via Condotti has little to offer for non-shoppers
Suitability
No restrictions but wheelchair users will need to take the long way around the steps
About this Rating
TYPE
Desktop
RESEARCHED IN
April 2023
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:0h 20m
est. visit time:1h
Sunrise / early morningNo
MorningOk
Lunch timeOk
AfternoonOk
Sunset / eveningOk
Night – bef. midnightOk
Night – aft. midnightNo