One of the best locations to start your weekend in Rome is the Spanish Square. Easy to reach by metro, you can hop off at the Spagna stop, and you’ll find yourself directly in the heart of Piazza di Spagne, the Spanish Square. Once you exit on the street, you’ll find yourself in the middle of artists, painters, and tourists buzzing about.
If you arrive in Piazza di Spagne during the daytime, there is an abundance of high-end shopping on nearby Via dei Condotti. This luxurious and famous boutique street is easy to find from the center of the Spanish Square as it branches off directly from there. If shopping stimulates your appetite, there are tons of eateries and gelato shops nearby.
The square is most known for the beautiful baroque Spanish Stairs that draw in tourists from across the world every year. Aside from being a fantastic meeting spot with plenty of room to sit and relax, the Spanish Steps are the widest staircase in Europe, with a total of 135 steps!
More than just a walkway, these stairs have long been a meeting place of the creatives of Rome. Whether writing or painting is your main interest, this popular destination has a lot of artistic energy that attracts all types of people. Especially in the evening, this location is the perfect spot for people watching. You might see a first-date meeting up outside of Trinità dei Monti or a few tourists enjoying the sights.
There is much to do in Spanish Square and the Spanish Stairs area. As you make your way up the Spanish Stairs, you’ll notice a sizable ancient obelisk at the top of the steps. Another exciting stop at the top of the stairs is the Church of Trinità dei Monti, which is one of the 5 remaining roman churches to conduct mass in both Italian and French.
After you’re done at the Spanish Steps continue in the neighborhood until you find Piazza del Popolo, which is only a short walk from Trinità dei Monti. The square is home to another obelisk, and this one is located in the center of the piazza. In addition, many tourists come to the square to visit the Santa Maria del Popolo basilica which features two canvases by Caravaggio.
Villa Borghese is also nearby and a must-see in the Spanish Square area. It is one of the largest public parks in Europe. You could make an entire day out of this stop or make a brief visit out of it. This beautiful park includes the Borghese Gallery, the Rome Zoo, Pincio’s Water Clock, and the Silvano Toti Globe Theatre. This park is quintessentially Roman, an excellent combination of nature and Roman art.
Nearby to the Piazza del Popolo, you will find the metro station of the same name, which will transport you to any other destination in the city. Though, you might not want to leave just yet as the Pantheon is also a short walk away. All of these locations are also still close to the Spanish Square area.
With so much to do in just one small area of the city, you’ll want to make sure that you are making the most out of your weekend in Rome. Check out this highly detailed tour guide called Rome in One Weekend for more fantastic walking tours of Rome!
