The Spanish Steps, Rome

Every evening John and I would join Rome's passeggiata or evening stroll along with the inhabitants of the city and its visitors. The Spanish steps and the Piazza di Spagna at its foot are always crowded with both visitors and locals.

People sit on the steps that lead down from the French church, Trinita dei Monti, and by whom the wonderful cascade of steps and belvederes was built in 1726 to connect the church to the piazza below. From the steps one has a view of Bernini's fountain, the Fontana della Barcaccia, looking like a leaking boat, and of the entrance to Rome's major high-fashion street, Via Condotti.

There's always something happening on the Steps. Here John caught a newly-wed couple and their retinue climbing to the upper levels for a photo shoot and greeted by the applause of the onlookers. 

Another day he caught this elegant-looking woman in a smart hat who was actually a porn actress and had moments before been taking provocative poses along the railing while her photographer and, of course, tourists like us took her picture.

I caught this happy couple in uniforms crossing the piazza.

There is always a roasted chestnut seller at the mouth of Via Condotti, selling his wares to both elegant shoppers and the throngs of visitors.

Here, I've caught a snap of the reception desk for the Spanish Embassy for which the Steps and the piazza are named. That's a big reproduction of a Goya in the background. Or is it an actual Goya?

With it's mix of glamourous shops and tourist throngs, the piazza and the Steps are always worth a visit. Here we see Trinita dei Monti and the masses sitting on the Steps reflected in a Missoni shop window. So much fun!