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Piazza di Spagna takes its name from the Spanish embassy building located on it.
In the center of Piazza di Spagna is the Fontana della Barcaccia ( La Barcaccia , "The Barque", Pietro Bernini, 1629). A legend is preserved that the fountain represents an ancient boat brought to the square during the Tiber flood in 1598.
Spanish Steps in Rome
The Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti, the longest and widest staircase in Europe, connects Piazza di Spagna with Piazza della Trinità dei Monti (Piazza Trinita dei Monti).
Piazza di Spagna was built in 1726 by architects Francesco de Sanctis and Alessandro Specchi. In spring it is decorated with blooming azaleas, in summer a fashion festival is held here and models parade along the steps, demonstrating the work of famous couturiers, in winter the attention of tourists is attracted by the nativity scene – Christmas scenes. At any time of the year, a magnificent view opens up from the staircase, especially at sunset.
To the left of the stairs is a real English tea house Babington 's Tea Rooms, opened in 1896 and still observes the Victorian traditions of tea drinking, and to the right is the Keats and Shelley Memorial House, located in the house where the romantic poet John Keats spent the last years of his life. Inside you can see the preserved 19th-century interior, as well as manuscripts, books and personal items of Keats, Shelley and Byron.
Continuing along the Spanish Steps to the Piazza della Trinità dei Monti , we first see the obelisk of Sallustiano ( Sallustiano ). It is a copy of an Egyptian obelisk made in Rome in the 3rd century, found during excavations and installed in the square in 1789.
Churches in Piazza di Spagna
Behind it is the church of Trinità dei Monti ( Church of Trinità dei Monti , 16th century). It is notable for its unusual design for Italy (two paired bell towers), as well as the paintings by Michelangelo's student Daniele da Volterra.
From Piazza di Spagna along Via Propaganda (Via Propaganda) you can walk to the Basilica of Sant'Andrea delle Fratte ( Basilica of Sant'Andrea delle Fratte , 12th century, subsequent reconstruction).
When the church began to be built, the city border crossed this place and the forest grew. This is where the name of the basilica comes from (Italian fratta – “thorny bush”). In the 17th century the roof, the dome and the bell tower were rebuilt by Francesco Borromini.
Inside you can see the originals of two angels by Bernini, originally created for the Sant'Angelo bridge. The client, Pope Clement IX, considered them so precious that he did not dare put them in the open.
From Piazza di Spagna to Piazza del Popolo (Piazza del Popolo) runs Via del Babuino (Via del Babuino), named after the fountain, adorned with an ancient statue of Silenus. The Romans considered him extremely ugly and called him "baboon". The Babuino is another of the Roman "talking" statues.
On via del Babuino , where foreigners have settled since ancient times, is the Greek-Catholic Church of Sant'Atanasio dei Greci (Chiesa di Sant'Atanasio dei Greci , Giacomo della Porta , 1572-1585 ). On the facade of the church you can see inscriptions in Greek and Latin dedicated to Athanasius the Great.
Parallel to via del Babuino is via Margutta (Via Margutta) with painters' studios and sculptors' workshops.
The director Federico Fellini and the actress Giulietta Masina lived for some time in one of the houses in this picturesque street.
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admin - November 22, 2018
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