Piazza di Spagna | Roma, Italia

The Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Plaza) sits at the base of the Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti (Spanish Steps). The fountain in the foreground is La Fontana della Barcaccia ("Fountain of the Old Boat"), built in 1627-29 and probably designed by Pietro Bernini. Barcaccia's simple design has a timeless quality, and appears more contemporary in conception than the pompous designs typical of the Baroque. The Scalinata is known as the longest and widest staircase in Europe. Bob Dylan sings of its glories in "When I Paint My Masterpiece" (1971). Although 138 steps isn't particularly numerous, the steps are so wide near the base they appear to be terraces.

The church above the steps is the Santissima Trinità dei Monti, and is of Spanish origin:

To my my chagrin, I found the Scalinata infested with thousands of tourists and about as photogenic as a swap-meet. So I turned my lens to the Piazza di Spagna and found it more appealing photographically.

I walked to the Piazza di Spagna from the Pantheon and, after a terrible lunch of Margarita (cheese pizza), lost the group of students I was with. Hell, I was lost most of the afternoon. A quiet afernoon of cafés and shopping was the plan but, instead, God gave me rain. A torrential downpour to be exact. Scurrying like a drenched river rat I sought shelter in Via Condotti's designer shops. I tried in vain to hail a cab—all were full—and ended up riding a packed and sweltering bus back to Hotel Nizza.

EOS 40D and EF-s 17-55 2.8 IS USM