THE SPANISH STEPS IN ROME (ITALY)

Though their somewhat misleading name may lead you to assume otherwise, the Spanish Steps in Rome,Italy, were not actually financed by the Spanish, but rather by a French diplomat by the name of Étienne Gueffier. The ‘Spanish’ part of the name refers instead to the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See, which would have been located on Piazza di Spagna (literally ‘Spanish Square’) at the base of the monument.
The Trinità dei Monti is the 16th century French church (with later Italian Renaissance architecture) located at the top of the Spanish Steps. From here you have fine views over the city of Rome.
The Gothic church with a Renaissance facade has two bell-towers. Inside, several paintings decorate the different chapels. Among them are two works by Daniele da Volterra, a pupil of Michelangelo.
The Obelisco Sallustiano stands in front of the church, moved here in 1789. It is a Roman obelisk in imitation of Egyptian ones. The hieroglyphs were copied from the obelisk on the Piazza del Popolo.