Ciao my fellow readers🌸There are places in Rome that never lose their magic, no matter how many times you visit. The Spanish Steps are one of them. I’ve seen them glowing at sunset, buzzing with life on summer nights, and now, for the very first time, in full bloom during spring. April dressed the steps in soft shades of pink and white, and Rome felt reborn.
This time, the steps weren’t just a place to climb or pause. They were a celebration, blanketed in azaleas, cascading like petals down each of the 135 Baroque steps. It felt like the Eternal City had stepped into a floral daydream, just for a few precious weeks.
🌺 A Springtime Tradition in Full Bloom
Every spring, usually from mid-April to early May, the Spanish Steps are transformed into a garden of color and light. It’s a tradition that began in the 1930s and has continued (with some brief pauses) ever since. Since 1952, Rome’s San Sisto nurseries have carefully prepared and placed hundreds of azaleas across the stairway in an arrangement as precise as it is poetic.
Two specific varieties are used to create the vibrant display:
- Rhododendron indicum, a lilac-pink azalea native to Japan.
- Bianca di Piazza di Spagna, a resilient white hybrid cultivated especially for this occasion.
The result is a living carpet of blossoms, flowing like a ribbon through the heart of one of Rome’s most iconic urban spaces. For a few short weeks, the steps don’t just lead somewhere, they become a destination of their own.
🏛️ The Story Behind the Steps
Despite their Italian beauty and French architectural origins, the steps are famously called the Spanish Steps, but the name has little to do with who built them. The staircase connects Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Square) below to the Trinità dei Monti church above.
So why “Spanish”? The square at the base once housed the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See, giving the area its name. When the steps were constructed in the early 18th century, that name stuck, even though they were designed by Italian architects Francesco de Sanctis and Alessandro Specchi and funded largely by a French diplomat, Étienne Gueffier.
Completed in 1725, the 135 steps were meant to symbolize harmony between church and state, uniting the Spanish square, the French church, and Roman architectural elegance in one graceful sweep. Today, they symbolize something even more universal: the beauty of gathering, pausing, and appreciating the view.
💧 The Fountain at the Foot
At the base of the Spanish Steps, nestled in Piazza di Spagna, lies one of Rome’s most charming fountains — the Fontana della Barcaccia, or “Fountain of the Old Boat.” Sculpted in the early 1600s by Pietro Bernini and his son, the legendary Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the fountain resembles a half-sunken ship spilling gentle streams of water from its sides.
According to legend, a flood from the Tiber River carried a small boat to this exact spot, inspiring the design. It may be modest compared to Rome’s grander fountains, but its quiet elegance, trickling sound, and proximity to the steps make it a favorite resting spot for both locals and travelers. I paused here more than once, drawn in by the cool mist and the soft gurgle of water, watching the azaleas above and the city come to life around me.
🌇 Strolling Through Bloom and History
I visited the Spanish Steps on a warm day in April, and no matter the hour, they were breathtaking. The air held a softness unique to spring, and the city felt especially alive. The azaleas shimmered under the Roman light, draping each level of the staircase in color and calm. People moved slowly. Some sat and sketched. Others wandered with gelato or snapped photos against the blossoms. I climbed the steps leisurely, stopping often to admire the view, the flowers, the feeling of being part of something timeless.
From the top, Rome stretched out in all directions. Domes and rooftops. Voices floating up from the piazza. Laughter and sunlight and petals beneath my feet. It was one of those travel moments you don’t plan but never forget.
✒️ Poetry, Art & Cinema
The Spanish Steps have long been a muse for poets, painters, and filmmakers. Just beside the steps is the Keats-Shelley House, where the English poet John Keats spent his final days. Inside, his desk, his letters, and his memory are preserved, a reminder that this place has stirred creative souls for centuries.
Of course, no mention of the steps would be complete without Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. Roman Holiday (1953) introduced the world to the staircase as a symbol of romance, freedom, and classic Italian elegance. Fashion houses have also embraced its splendor, Valentino, most notably, staged a couture runway show right on the steps in 2022, blending heritage and haute couture. The staircase is more than a monument, it’s a storybook of moments, captured and shared across generations.
Final Thoughts
The Spanish Steps in April are a reminder that beauty, especially in Rome, is often fleeting, and that makes it all the more precious. Covered in azaleas, kissed by warm light, and wrapped in centuries of history, they invite you not just to take photos, but to feel.
Whether you go at sunrise, noon, or twilight, take your time. Sit on a quiet step. Breathe in the moment. Let the colors, the light, and the scent of azaleas carry you somewhere soft and timeless.
xoxo,
Bubbly 💖
