Piazza di Spagna Rome

A weirdly shaped square in northern Rome, the Piazza Di Spagna got its name after the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See. This site can best be described as a “stretched” triangle connected by several roadways. The Piazza di Spagna features several attractions. A Spanish twelve-tiered staircase (called “Scalinata Della Trinita' de Spagna”) leads to the famous French church, Trinita' dei Monte, overlooking the square from a nearby hill. At the bottom of the staircase is a rather strange fountain (“La Fontana della Baracaccia”) in the shape of a small boat, inspired by a sixteenth century flood from the Tevere. On the southern end of the piazza stands a colonnade crowned by a statue of the Virgin Mary that celebrates the Immaculate Conception. The Palazzo di Propaganda, situated behind the colonnade, exhibits a façade of varying-shaped windows and pilasters, an architectural style that continues throughout the square. Various vendors and caricature artists provide an endless array of local color. The square is always accessible. It can be entered by the Via del Babuina and is connected to the Piazza dei Popolo. Bus rides, excellent dining, and hotel accommodations are available. Walking through the site can provide hours of captivating visuals and cultural interaction.