Welcome to 2015's A–Z Challenge. This year I'm taking you on a tour of one of my favourite cities!

Wednesday 22 April 2015

S – Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps
When I first visited the Spanish Steps I was embarrassingly unaware of its history. Most of the visitors who perched on the steps were youngsters, students, and many were reading, lost deep in thought. The plaque on a nearby building revealed the attraction – John Keats had died there in 1821. He was only twenty-five, possibly the average age of those who were undoubtedly immersed in his romantic words.

The building is now the Keats-Shelley House, a museum that records the short lives of two of England’s poets. Shelley died in 1822; he was only twenty-nine.

Beyond the Fontana della Barcaccia (Fountain of the Old Boat) at the base of the steps is Babington’s where they've served tea since the 1890s.

This is, unsurprising, a bustling place. Like much of Rome it remains busy through to the small hours. If you do get a chance to explore Rome by night, try and make it to the Spanish Steps. It’s a very special place.


10 comments:

  1. Oh these steps have been in so many films and one day, I plan to walk up them!

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    1. You must! At the moment they're decked out with flowers - but I've never visited at this time of year.

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  2. Been there. Ah, so long ago.

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  3. I read about the flowers in spring and had hoped to see them when we visited in May a few years ago. Unfortunately all we got was rain.

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    1. Sad person that I am, I often peek at the Steps via a webcam. The flowers are now in place but have yet to bloom.

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  4. Beautiful part of town. There are some great restaurants down on Via Condotti too. La dolce Vita!

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  5. I have to admit to being disappointed with the Spanish steps. All the photos I've ever seen had flowers on both sides all the way up but when I went there (mid July) there was nothing at all. Plus the building at the top was surrounded with scaffolding and a huge advertising banner was hanging from the front - not very picturesque at all.

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    1. You need to visit in the spring to see the flowers.

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    2. Thanks, I'll remember that :)

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