One of those gems that you just have to experience is the staircase known as the “Spanish Steps”, in the city of Rome. Always crowded by tourists and many never realize the pinnacle of the visit of actually starting from the top and walking down the 12 ramps of stairs and they spread out in this wonderful cascading fan to the piazza below. Quite an experience I assure you.
The Spanish Steps - Rome
Built in the 18th Century to connect the French Church (Trinita dei Monti) with the paizza below. Took a bit of persuading to be built in the first place as the Papacy was not in favour as they were concerned probably that the French religion was represented at all in the city. Anyway they relented and a young architect called Fransisca de Santos who fortunately was pretty well thought of by both parties was given approval and he started building in 1772.
The Spanish Steps take their name from the presence of the Spanish Embassy to the Holy Seat (the Vatican) which is located at the bottom of the staircase. Also interestingly there is also at the foot, to the right, a red house which belonged to John Keats the English poet.
At the top of the stairway and not in this picture as I wanted the bustle at the steps only, stands the church which was built in 1495. It has two domes and an Sallustian obelisk which was placed there in 1789. Real history here as with so much of this city.
An interesting city Rome and full of marvelous sights, not least the Spanish Steps – not to be missed.
The image here taken initially from an original photograph and produced using various filter effects and brush work, then the colors were enhanced and texture added plus a canvas backing – all mounted in a virtual wood and gold frame. Fun to do and makes me want to visit once more.
