Spanish Steps – Rome, Italy

The Scalinata Spagna (Spanish Steps) is the longest and widest staircase in Europe. The massive stairway is comprised of 138 steps fanned out in a symmetrical fashion as it climbs up the hillside. Sitting on the Spanish Steps is a top prime people-watching location as there is never a lack of people. With tons of tourists and used as a gathering place for locals as well – it can be a challenge to find space to sit on the enormous stairway. But don’t eat on the steps – law prohibits food on the steps and there are police ready and willing to dish out fines.

The Spanish Steps are not Spanish at all. They were funded by a French diplomat, designed by an Italian architect, lead up to a French church, were home to British poets (Keats, Byron, Shelley) and surrounded by international high-end shopping. The Spanish Embassy to the Holy See is located at the bottom of the steps, and in the 17th century the Piazza di Spagna was considered Spanish territory.

At the top overlooking the steps in front of the French church are portrait artists ready to make your likeness into a time-treasured piece of artwork. Down the steps are plenty of salesmen peddling their knock-off Louis Vitton and Prada handbags, designer knock-off sunglasses or flashy jewelery. At the bottom of the steps in the center of the triangle piazza is a fountain of a sinking ship thought to be designed by Pietro Bernini.