Where are the original Spanish Steps?

The Spanish Steps are a set of steps in Rome, Italy, climbing a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, dominated by the Trinità dei Monti church at the top.

The 135 step staircase was completed in 2 years and opened in 1725 A.D.

Funded by a French diplomat and designed and constructed by Italian architects, they were built to join the Bourbon Spanish Embassy, and the Trinità dei Monti church that was under the patronage of the Bourbon kings of France, both located above — to the Holy See in Palazzo Monaldeschi located below.

The 1953 film 'Roman Holiday', starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, made the Spanish Steps famous to the North American audience. The apartment that was the setting for 'The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone' (1961) is halfway up on the right. Bernardo Bertolucci's 'Besieged' (1998) is also set in a house next to the Steps. The Steps were featured prominently in the film version of 'The Talented Mr. Ripley' starring Matt Damon in the title role.

The Steps have also been mentioned numerous times in song by artists Bob Dylan (although he called them Spanish Stairs), A-Ha, Toto, John Tesh and Marc Cohn.

They are a very popular tourist draw and are quite crowded for the best part of the day and evening. Eating while sitting or traversing them is strictly prohibited.