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Nestled in the heart of Rome, Piazza di Spagna stands as one of the world’s most iconic, charming, and visited squares, making it one of the most characteristic and evocative places in the Eternal City. Located in a privileged position, in the bustling heart of central Rome, in the Campo Marzio district, this square, where historic shopping streets converge, from Via Condotti to Via Frattina, from Via del Babbuino to Via Borgognona, is internationally renowned.

With its prestigious hotels, luxury boutiques, historic restaurants and cafes, and above all with the prestigious Spanish Steps, Piazza di Spagna is not only one of the clearest symbols of majestic Roman Baroque, but today it is also one of the most exclusive meeting places in Rome. If you are visiting Rome don’t miss the opportunity for a stop in Piazza di Spagna.

The History of Piazza di Spagna

Originally, Piazza di Spagna was called Piazza della Trinità, named after the Church of Trinità dei Monti, consecrated by Pope Sixtus V in 1587. In those years, that area was considered suburban, a stopping place for horse-drawn carriages transporting foreigners to Rome through Porta del Popolo, which at the time was the northern entrance to the city.

The adjacent land was cultivated with vineyards and was overall in decline, relegated to the outskirts of the city.

It was from the sixteenth century onwards that the area around the square began to assume a commercially relevant role due to the presence of many hotels and houses that provided accommodation for pilgrims and foreigners who came to visit Rome. It was in this context that in 1620 King Philip IV of Spain purchased an entire building that became the headquarters of his ambassadors to the Vatican, so much so that it still is today. From this purchase comes the name “Piazza di Spagna”.

The Construction of the Spanish Steps: A Marvel of Roman Architecture

Before the construction of the famous staircase, the square and the Church of Trinità dei Monti were connected only by two very steep streets, located along the slope and accessible only on foot.

It was only in 1723, at the behest of Pope Innocent XIII and designed by the Roman architect Francesco De Sanctis, that the spectacular Spanish Steps of Trinità dei Monti were built, connecting the slopes of the Pincio with the church of the Santissima Trinità and the underlying Piazza di Spagna. Designed to be the new meeting point for citizens and foreigners, even today the staircase is a place of meeting and gathering, so much so that it is called the “living room of Rome“.

La Barcaccia: The Elegant Fountain at the Heart of the Square

The center of the square, surrounded by historic noble palaces, is dominated by the fountain called the “Barcaccia” (1626-29), the work of Pietro Bernini, father of Gian Lorenzo. The fountain has the shape of a boat with identical bow and stern and is set in an oval pool. On the bow and stern are two large coats of arms of Urban VIII with three bees. The fountain was fed by the Acqua Vergine aqueduct.

The term “barcaccia” is inspired by the boats used on the Tiber in the nearby port of Ripetta.

The Romantic Era of Rome in the 19th Century

The Eternal City became one of the most sought-after and lively centers in Europe in just a few decades, as well as a sought-after destination for artists and travelers.

Must-See Attractions Around Piazza di Spagna

In addition to the Barcaccia and the famous Spanish Steps of Trinità dei Monti, Piazza di Spagna is surrounded by important historic buildings. From the Memorial House of English poets Keats and Shelley, to the Casa Museo of the painter Giorgio De Chirico, to the Palazzo della Propaganda Fide.

Adjacent to the square is the Column of the Immaculate Conception, a nineteenth-century monument erected in Piazza Mignanelli in front of the Spanish embassy. A Corinthian column sculpted in ancient Rome, it was discovered in the late Renaissance.

Conclusions

For its intricate history and the charm that has remained unchanged for more than three centuries, Piazza di Spagna is not just a square; it is a testament to the spirit and immortal beauty of Rome.

Rome is appreciated and admired worldwide not only for its illustrious past dating back to the splendors of the Roman Empire, which once dominated the known world, but also for the invaluable artistic value the city has preserved for centuries within churches, museums, and palaces. A magnificent example of this is Palazzo Barberini, a place that houses one of the most precious Roman collections from the 17th and 18th centuries, serving as the seat of the National Gallery of Ancient Art.

Its Construction: From Papal Residence to Baroque Masterpiece

Palazzo Barberini was designed and built to mark the culmination of the ascent to the papal throne of the Florentine Maffeo Barberini, who became Pope Urban VIII, a great art enthusiast who, during his 21-year pontificate, transformed Rome into the European capital of the Baroque. In addition to granting titles and honors to members of his family to elevate his Tuscan lineage to the same level as other Roman noble families, Urban VIII wanted to build a residence worthy of a court, ensuring him power and fame. The palace, located between Via delle Quattro Fontane and the current Via XX Settembre, a short distance from the Quirinal, once a papal residence, represents an absolute novelty for the time with its internal gardens and architectural form, blending the characteristics of a classic city residence with those of a suburban villa with green areas and refreshment spots. Palazzo Barberini was constructed by reusing a building belonging to the Sforza family, which was then in enormous financial difficulties. The available space was considerably large and allowed for the construction of the grand project that came to light in 1633.

The Structure: Blend of Renaissance Palazzo and Suburban Villa

The Barberini family employed some of the most talented artists of the time at the construction site, under the direction of Carlo Maderno, who had previously overseen the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica, along with his assistant Borromini. Initially, a quadrangular structure was planned, following the most classical Renaissance palace design, but later a project with open wings was developed, transforming this concept into that of a villa-palace, combining the two functions of representative residence and villa, complete with extensive gardens and open perspectives. After Maderno’s death, Gian Lorenzo Bernini took over the direction of the works and conceived the large central hall, frescoed by Pietro da Cortona, which occupies the height of the two floors of the palace, and the oval hall which echoes the typically Berninian theme of the elliptical plan. He also designed the glassed-in loggia that serves as a link, externally, between the facade and the underlying portico.

Years of Decline: The Fate of the Barberini Family and the Palacene

However, by the end of the 17th century, the glory and wealth of the Barberini family inexorably declined. With the opening of Via Barberini in 1926, the palace had a double entrance, marking the division of the two sectors of the palace: the northern one, inhabited by the secular branch of the family, and the southern one, inhabited by the ecclesiastics, namely the Barberini cardinals. After World War II, more precisely in 1951, the state took over the palace, and the following year, the Ministry of Public Education entrusted the Superintendency with forming the collection of the new National Gallery of Ancient Art, which was officially opened in 1955.

The Gallery Today: Showcasing Rome’s Artistic Treasures

Palazzo Barberini presents an exhibition of the main painting schools from the 13th to the 18th century. The most represented epochs are the 16th and 17th centuries, with works by Raphael, Piero di Cosimo, Bronzino, Hans Holbein, Lorenzo Lotto, Tintoretto, Caravaggio, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Guido Reni, Guercino, Nicolas Poussin, and Pietro da Cortona.

The strategic location of Palazzo Barberini, close to the main attractions of the city, allows it to be included as a final stop if you have planned a tour of the Colosseum and the nearby Basilica of San Clemente

The National Gallery of Ancient Art at Palazzo Barberini in Rome can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.

The historic center of Rome is a veritable open-air museum rich in churches, monuments, archaeological sites, squares, fountains, and much more. To visit all the wonders contained in this area, probably a month would not be enough. If we were to include all the monuments, historical-artistic sites, and archaeological sites outside the perimeter of the historic center, the time needed would be considerably longer.

Any tourist visiting the Eternal City, whether for the first time or not, must make a selection of the works and places to visit. If you have a few extra days to spare, the Basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, located near Via Tiburtina, is definitely a place to see.

History of Basilica di San Lorenzo

The church is the result of the fusion of two distinct structures built, one at the end of the 6th century and the other in the 13th century, around the tomb of Saint Lawrence, martyred on August 10, 258, on a burning grill, which is now preserved in the Church of San Lorenzo in Lucina following the edict issued by Emperor Valerian and then buried along the Via Tiburtina. The church also preserves the relics of Saint Stephen; this makes the church one of the most venerated in Rome, as well as one of the oldest in the city. With Constantine, the tomb was arranged to allow access to the faithful inside; always by Constantine, a large brick basilica, with three naves, was built near the tomb, which remained standing until the 9th century. It was Pope Pelagius II who, in 580, built a new building next to the martyr’s tomb to accommodate an ever-increasing number of pilgrims, but it was with Pope Honorius III Savelli that the current appearance was reached: he had a new church built, which replaced, incorporating and transforming it into a presbytery after reversing its orientation, the basilica built by Pelagius II.

Restoration after 1943

In modern times, there was an important restoration intervention, following the bombing of 1943, which attempted to restore the basilica to its medieval appearance. The façade, preceded by a portico supported by six columns and decorated with frescoes from the 13th century, has three arched windows and was completely rebuilt after the end of World War II. To the right of the facade stands the Romanesque brick bell tower of the 12th century built on 8 floors. Inside the bell tower are two bells, the smaller one from 1800 and the larger one from 1856.

Interiors of the Basilica

The Basilica consists of three naves and already at first glance shows the non-homogeneous appearance given by the presence of one in the other of the two basilicas, the Pelagian and the Honorian. There are twenty-two columns dividing the naves, different in materials used and in size. In the presbytery is located the confession of the tomb of St. Lawrence, while in the center of the Cosmatesque floor rises the ciborium, the oldest work signed by Roman marble workers, consisting of four shafts in porphyry supporting a pyramidal cover. On the back wall is the episcopal throne and in the triumphal arch the famous mosaic from the end of the 6th century depicting Christ among the Saints Paul, Stephen, Hippolytus, Peter, Lawrence, and Pope Pelagius.

The Basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura thus represents one of the most authentic testimonies to have reached the present day of the strenuous expansion of Christianity in Rome and an excellent example from the architectural point of view of churches built on already existing nuclei.

If you are interested in Christian Rome we suggest to have a look to our Private Tour of Christian Rome.

Useful information

The Basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura is located in Piazzale del Verano, not far from Tiburtina station.

It is open from 7 am to 12 pm and from 4 pm to 7 pm. Weekday masses are at 8 am and 6:30 pm. On Saturdays at 6:30 pm and on Sundays at 9:30 am, 11 am, and 6:30 pm.

Photo credits: @IoViaggioLowCost365 on Tripdvisor

Rome is a continuous discovery: everything in the historic center, from the symbols of the eternal city such as the Colosseum or the Pantheon or the Trevi Fountain, to the most evocative views like the Gianicolo, the Orange Garden, and the Capitol, is tangible evidence of the multitude of events that have layered over the centuries, creating today that unique world humus on which Rome continues to thrive.

Trajan’s Column: A Testament to Rome’s Imperial Glory

If you find yourself near the Imperial Forums and the Colosseum and are passionate about the history of ancient Rome and the magnificence of its vast Empire, Trajan’s Column is undoubtedly one of the monuments that cannot be missed in your walking tour.

This monument is located next to the Ulpia Basilica.

Unraveling the Story: Bas-Reliefs and Propaganda on Trajan’s Column

The monument was erected between 107 and 113 AD; it was commissioned by Emperor Trajan to celebrate and commemorate the conquest of Dacia, present-day Romania.

But what is the peculiarity of this 40-meter-high monument? Its absolute uniqueness lies in the friezes that spiral along the entire length of the column, narrating, like a story, the heroic deeds of the Roman people and Trajan during the victorious military campaigns to conquer Dacia. Each frieze, created using bas-relief technique, depicts a significant moment in the battle: in fact, this narrative represents one of the first propaganda tools ever devised.

An important testimony

Every scene depicted on the column represents a specific moment in the military campaign, from preparations to the actual battle, to the triumph.

What stands out are the details of the bas-reliefs, which intricately portray moments of the troops’ daily life during the long weeks away from Rome. These details have provided scholars with important insights into the daily habits of the Roman people, from clothing to food, from the types of weapons used to the military tactics of the time.

Exploring Trajan’s Column from Base to Summit

Even from an architectural point of view, the Column is an exemplary monument from various perspectives. Built from 18 stacked blocks, the material used is the precious Carrara marble. On the side of the column facing the Ulpia Basilica, an inscription with Roman characters and four eagles supporting a laurel wreath can be noticed.

The entrance to access it is at the base of the Column: inside are the remains of Trajan and his wife Plotina. From here, an internal spiral staircase with its 185 steps leads to the top of the column. Originally, at the top of the column, there was the statue of Trajan, replaced in 1587 during the pontificate of Pope Sixtus V with a bronze statue of St. Peter.

The panorama that unfolds for visitors at the top of the monument is unique, with a breathtaking view of the Imperial Forums and the monuments in the heart of the city.

Suggestions

After visiting this jewel of imperial Rome, just a few steps from the Colosseum, you can’t miss the opportunity to take a tour of Basilica San Clemente one of the oldest churches in the eternal city.