The Spanish Steps (Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti) in Rome: how many steps are there and where does the name come from?

There is a place in the capital where history and beauty blend in a timeless embrace. A majestic Baroque building with steps that invite lovers to climb hand in hand, sports enthusiasts to take a little exercise, and tourists to take the perfect photo. All this while admiring one of the most evocative views of the city. The Spanish Steps – or Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti – are more than a simple place of passage, but a real open-air stage.

Here every step tells a story, every glance reveals a secret and every corner captures the essence of Roman life. This stairway, which winds harmoniously between Piazza di Spagna and the majestic church of Trinità dei Monti, is an invitation to beauty, to lose yourself in the baroque details and to let yourself be carried away by the timeless magic that only Rome can offer. Are you ready to discover how many steps the Spanish Steps have and why it’s called that?

The origin of the name Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti

The name of this marvellous staircase comes from the church of the same name, located at the top of the steps. The structure, built in the 16th century by order of the King of France Louis XII, is an architectural jewel that connects the Pincian Hill and the Piazza di Spagna below, which at the time were separated by a barren, steep and muddy hill. Built by the architect Francesco De Sanctis between 1723 and 1726, commissioned by Cardinal Pierre Guérin de Tencin, it was inaugurated by Pope Benedict XIII during the Jubilee of 1725, and offers a spectacular view over the Eternal City.

The majesty of the steps

Built in travertine, the Spanish Steps consist of 132 steps, spread over 11 flights, each consisting of 12 steps, which almost seem to meander, continually changing direction, and then rejoining, winding between protrusions and recesses. Thanks to the series of balustrades that interrupt the climb, there are resting points where you can enjoy the landscape below.

The Spanish Steps today

Having undergone numerous maintenance operations over time, the staircase was completely restored in 1995, and again in 2015, thanks to the Maison Bulgari, who restored it to its original appearance and made it accessible once again, starting from September 2016. Try to visit it in the middle of spring, when the steps are coloured white and lilac, with the traditional display of the Capitoline azaleas, one of the world’s most cherished urban scenes, in place since the 1950s.

Article translated by Jasmina Towers

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