Piazza di Spagna

Piazza di Spagna in Rome owes its name to the presence of the Embassy of Spain to the Holy See in Palazzo Monaldeschi. Encircled by ochre-coloured buildings, the square features the early Baroque fountain of the Barcaccia, sculpted by Pietro Bernini and his son (the more famous Gian Lorenzo): set in an oval basin, it is shaped like a ship with identical prow and poop, the sides are very low to give the impression that the boat is sinking. Behind the fountain, the imposing 136 step staircase built in 1725 is a stunning connecting route to the slopes of the Pincio, leading up to the Church of Trinita dei Monti.