Ward Family Vacations

Italy 2001

Spanish Steps

Our next stop were the Spanish Steps which are the widest and longest steps in Europe.  They were built in 1723-1726 by Francesco De Sanctis. They are made by twelve flights of steps of varying width moving upwards towards the church (Piazza Trinita de Monti), which was founded by the French in 1495.  It was obviously the place to be as there were many people, of course, remember this was the weekend.  At the bottom of the Spanish Steps was a fountain in Italian "La Fontana della Barcaccia ("Fountain of the Old Boat"), built in 1627-29 by Bernini.  The building to the left in the first picture below is where poet John Keats was living when he died.