Piazza di Spagna

Rome, Italy

Overview

Here you can live at the very heart of Rome, overlooking the Spanish Steps in spacious rooms with tiled floors and high, beamed ceilings painted in soft colours. Become a Friend of the Keats-Shelley Memorial Association and stay at Piazza di Spagna.

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  • Bed in Living RoomBed in Living Room
  • ShowerShower

Beds 2 Single, 1 Double

Sleeps
3 +1
4 nights
£2520 equivalent to £157.50 per person, per night

Views almost unchanged since the Grand Tour

This high-ceilinged apartment is on the third floor of the Keats Shelley House, named after the two young poets who died in Italy in 1821 and 1822. It has captivating views from every window, unchanged since those days when the Piazza di Spagna was the favourite haunt of the British ‘milords’ on their Grand Tour. We have restored the apartment to how it was around 1821 when poet John Keats died of tuberculosis here on the floor below, today run as a museum by the Keats Shelley Memorial Association. The rooms are identical in form and layout. The sitting-room looks up the Spanish Steps – the world’s grandest and most sophisticated outdoor staircase - to the Baroque splendour of the church of S. Trinita dei Monti, framing a view of one the best-loved sites in Rome. Just outside the front door is a Bernini fountain, a stone boat rising from the cobbles of Piazza di Spagna.

The Spanish Steps

The Steps were designed in 1721 by Francesco de Sanctis, who also designed this house to fit in with his plan. From the apartment you have a grandstand view of the people watchers on the steps. There is hardly any motor traffic, but instead all the noises of humanity, some of them very unusual – for example when the steps are cleared by water-cannon, or when the horse-drawn cabs, which form a rank at the far end of the Piazza, arrive over the cobbles at the start of each day.

The price of the stay includes membership for the lead booker to the Friends of the Keats-Shelley Memorial Association. All guests staying in the apartment will be invited to visit the museum and take a tour led by one of the guides and to participate in any KSMA events held during their stay where possible.

Floor Plan

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Map & local info

Piazza di Spagna, with its beacon of S. Trinità dei Monti, is a great point of orientation at the heart of Rome’s narrow streets. The Landmark is right on this sensational Piazza, just above one of the shrines of English Romanticism, the Keats-Shelley House.

Take in the view up the Spanish Steps to the church of S. Trinità dei Monti, matched only by the vista across Rome’s rooftops at the summit. Bernini’s famous Barcaccia fountain is a place to meet and mingle. Centrally placed Piazza di Spagna is perfectly placed for exploring Rome’s many sites.

Looking north, one might walk up Via del Babuino, pausing at the antique shops, studios and galleries in the famous Via Margutta, the neighbourhood of Picasso, Puccini and Fellini, which featured in the classic movie, Roman Holiday. The neoclassical Piazza del Popolo with its twin baroque churches is only a few steps away. The Basilica of S. Maria del Popolo holds masterpieces by Raphael, Caravaggio and Bernini, among others.

West of the Piazza lies the fashion district, with haute-couture centred around via Condotti and via Frattina and more high street shopping on Via del Corso. You might want to take a break in the elegant Antico Caffè del Greco where Goethe, Stendhal, Wagner and many other celebrities of the past gathered to discuss literature and arts, sipping one of the best coffees in the city centre.  

Facing the southern end of the Piazza, disciples of the baroque might enjoy the Propaganda Fide palace and the church of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte, burial site of Angelica Kauffman. The Trevi Fountain, and some lovely ice cream shops, is less than fifteen minutes’ walk south from here. The nearby Quirinale Hill, seat of the President’s residence, boasts two of the greatest jewels of Roman baroque, Sant’Andrea al Quirinale and San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane. Santa Maria della Vittoria, with its theatrical Ecstasy of Santa Teresa, is along the same road, on Via XX Settembre.

For a romantic stroll, go up the Spanish Steps and turn left, where you can enjoy a breath-taking view over the city from the Pincio Hill. Take a picnic in one of the gardens of Villa Borghese, hire a paddle-boat or a bicycle to discover its hidden treasures, such as Lord Byron’s statue. Be sure to book in a visit to the Borghese Gallery to admire works including Bernini’s Apollo & Daphne and Titian’s Sacred and Profane Love.

Clear directions
Essential info
What you need to know about this building
  • No.
  • Directly from the street (6 flight of stairs up to the Landmark flat).
  • The Spagna Metro station is close by on Metro A.
  • No – the nearest garage is The Garage Villa Borghese is within walking distance (via the metro tunnel) and charges 15 Euro per day for parking. Tel: 003906 3225934. The entrance is in Viale Muro Torto (Galoppatoio).
  • There is gas central heating.
  • The majority of properties do not offer WiFi but many now have mobile coverage. Facilities in some properties rely on WiFi to function and we are currently piloting guest use of WiFi at a few of our buildings. We are going to extend the pilot across more properties and review customer feedback in 2025.
  • The kitchen is fully equipped with all plates, cutlery, fridge etc. There is also a gas cooker.
  • There is one bathroom with a free-standing shower unit.
  • There are 6 flights of stairs - the last flight has steeper stairs. There is no lift.
  • No.
  • Yes the property is in the city centre and next to a very popular and busy tourist spot.  The noise can carry on late into the night.
Booking and Payment
  • If the weather is bad, please contact our booking office who will be able to tell you whether the Landmark is accessible. If the housekeeper can safely get to the building to prepare it then we consider that it is open and available for guests. However if we cannot undertake a changeover then we will do our utmost to transfer your stay to another Landmark, depending on what we have available. It may not be of a similar size or in the same part of the country as your original booking. If the building is accessible but the customer cannot travel due to poor weather in his/her local area then please be aware that Landmark will not provide a refund. However the customer may be able to claim on his/her own travel insurance. We recommend that all guests take out travel insurance when they first secure a booking.
  • We accept Maestro (if issued in the UK), Visa, MasterCard, direct transfer and sterling cheques drawn on a UK bank. Cheques should be made payable to the Landmark Trust except for Lundy stays and boat/helicopter tickets which should be payable to The Lundy Company Ltd. All payments must be in sterling.
  • The key arrangements will be included in the Further Infomation document which will be sent to you prior to your stay.
  • If your stay starts more than two months from the date you make the booking, you are required to pay a deposit of one third of the cost of your stay (or £100 per booking, if greater) at the time of booking. Camping on Lundy and The Bunk House at Llwyn Celyn must be paid for in full at the time of booking.
  • If you wish to cancel or change your booking, please contact our Booking Office on 01628 825925
  • At the moment we only accept payment in sterling.
  • Our housekeeper will leave the key in a suitable place, the details of which will be sent to you prior to your stay.
  • It depends. Some of our most popular Landmarks are booked up a long time in advance, but many can be booked at short notice. We will always have Landmarks free for the coming weekend so it’s always worth checking our availability list.
  • No, Landmarks are available to be booked for anyone.
  • No, all the information you need can be found on our website, although we’d like you to buy one anyway as it will be a pleasure to own!
Staying at a Landmark
  • Some of our Landmarks are suitable for people with disabilities or limited mobility. However, many Landmarks have steep or narrow staircases, uneven floors and thresholds, changes of level, low ceilings or beams, as well as indistinct colours on steps and in corridors. We recommend that you call Booking Enquiries on 01628 825925 if you would like to find out the suitability of a particular Landmark for anyone with a specific disability.  Further information on access when visiting Lundy can also be found here.
  • Yes, Landmarks are only available as self-catering accommodation. We do not offer bed and breakfast.
  • Landmark does not provide catering, but we can recommend Greycoat Lumleys who can arrange for expert and well-trained staff to cater for one evening or for your entire holiday. Their cooks and chefs are able to work with you to meet your specific requirements
  • You may bring up to two dogs to properties where dogs are allowed (please see specific property details for exemptions however dogs are not permitted on Lundy except assistance dogs). They must be kept off the furniture and under proper control. A charge of £20 per stay is made for each dog. Please contact booking enquiries if a registered assistance dog is supporting one of the guests, for which there is no charge.
  • Apart from two dogs (see above) no other pets are permitted.
  • Arrival is from 4pm and departure is by 10am.
  • We do not carry insurance for breakages. However we appreciate that accidents do sometimes happen. If you have a breakage during your stay, please let the housekeeper know and if appropriate we reserve the right to invoice you accordingly.
  • Yes, most of our Landmarks are perfect for children, with gardens to play in and secret places to discover. Our furniture is surprisingly robust and we positively encourage families to stay. However, some of our buildings may not be suitable for small children; for example, some of them have steep or uneven spiral staircases. We recommend that you call the Booking Enquiries team if you would like to find out the suitability of any of our Landmarks for young children.
  • Unfortunately, most of our Landmarks are not licensed for weddings. However, you may get married on Lundy.
  • All our larger Landmarks are perfect for gatherings of family or friends. You may invite an additional two guests to visit you during your stay, however they must not stay overnight. This is very important because our fire regulations specifically note the maximum number of people in any one building. In addition our properties are prepared, furnished and equipped for the number of people specified and greater numbers cause damage and excessive wear and tear to vulnerable buildings. Should this condition be ignored we shall make a retrospective charge per person per day (whether or not they stay overnight) for each guest over the permitted limit, the charge being pro-rated on the total cost of your booking.
  • We deliberately do not provide televisions and find that most people appreciate this.
  • One of the challenges of restoring unloved buildings is gaining access to them. We frequently have to negotiate rights with our neighbours and share tracks with them. In many cases tracks do not belong to us and we have no right to maintain them. Wherever possible we work with our neighbours to provide you with a good quality surface, but where this is a problem then you will be warned at the time of booking.
  • Yes, we have standard electricity sockets for UK appliances. If you are coming from outside the UK, you will need to bring your own adaptor plug(s). If you are visiting one of our European properties we have standard European electricity sockets. If you are visiting from the UK, you will need to bring your own adapter plug (s).
  • Landmark’s electrical systems have not been designed to provide continuous power from one socket over several hours.  If an ordinary socket is used to charge an electric vehicle, there is significant risk of an electrical fire and consequent danger to life.  Therefore, we are unable to allow electric vehicle charging from most of our Landmarks at present.

    We are working to provide Type 2 Electric Vehicle charge points at our properties where there is private parking.  Where this is available, please request this facility when booking the property to ensure the outlet is enabled on your arrival.  There is a small charge to cover the cost of electricity provided.  Please book this facility in advance.
  • No, we do not allow smoking in any Landmark.
Facilities
  • A welcome tray with tea and sugar awaits your arrival and you will find a pint of milk in the fridge. We also provide toilet rolls and a bar of soap per basin, but no other toiletries. Hairdryers are provided.
  • The majority of properties do not offer WiFi but many now have mobile coverage. Facilities in some properties rely on WiFi to function and we are currently piloting guest use of WiFi at a few of our buildings. We are going to extend the pilot across more properties and review customer feedback in 2025.
  • Mobile coverage varies. Some Landmarks have an excellent signal, but others have none at all. You can find those with 4G and 5G signal on our Landmarks with mobile signal page and each building has a link to signal checker in the Essential Information so you can check individual service providers' coverage in the area.
  • Logs are provided at many of our Landmarks for an additional cost.
  • Yes, our kitchens are well equipped with cookers and fridges. There are freezers and dishwashers (in larger buildings) and, where space allows, microwaves as well as a wide and standard range of utensils. A full equipment list is available at time of booking.
  • Sometimes our kitchens and bathrooms have to be imaginatively fitted into the available space in buildings where before there were none, but they are all planned and equipped to a high and modern standard.
  • Yes, Landmarks are fully equipped with sheets and towels. All the beds are fully made up for your arrival. Except for the Llwyn Celyn Bunkhouse.
  • We do not provide Christmas trees or decorations. However, you are welcome to bring your own. We kindly ask that you remove them at the end of your stay.
History

The Keats-Shelley Memorial Association

The Keats-Shelley Memorial Association has overcome difficulties of many kinds since its successful purchase of 26, Piazza di Spagna in 1906.  One of the most serious arose in 1973, when a law was passed freezing all rents in Rome. This meant that the income from letting flats in the house would, before very long, fail to cover the running costs. Accordingly, in 1977, an appeal was launched to raise money for an endowment which would give the Association a sound and independent financial base.

One of the bodies the Association approached for help was the Manifold Trust, the grant-giving charity set up in 1962 by John Smith which has, among other things, been the main benefactor of the Landmark Trust.  John Smith suggested that in this case, the Landmark might be better placed to help.  Was there a part of the building that the Landmark could take on and let for experiences, in return for financial support, then and in the future?

It so happened that the flat on the third floor was about to become empty, on the retirement of the Curator, Signora Cacciatore. The Association could ill afford the renovation needed before the apartment could be re-let and so Landmark agreed to lease the flat and to pay for whatever repairs and improvements were necessary. The presence of Landmarkers continues the fine tradition of British travellers staying on the Spanish Steps.

A short history of Piazza di Spagna

Read the full history album for Piazza di Spagna

Restoration

Minor improvements undertaken

Plans were drawn up by early 1979 but proceeded no further for two years, during which time they disappeared into the intricate workings of the Roman planning system.  The main problem was the proposal to move the bathroom partition, because of concern for the painted ceiling above it.  Permission was eventually given, however, and work was able to start.  Apart from the alteration to the bathroom, this consisted mainly of renewing services, relaying floors, repairing windows, improving the kitchen and redecorating. 

Little was done to alter the original appearance of the flat, contrary to the suspicions of Roman neighbours, who repeatedly alerted the police to dreadful things happening in the 'Casa Rossa', prompting them to call to 'repress irregularities'.  The painted ceilings, which were flaking and stained in places by damp, were carefully restored by a very old and skilful craftsman, who also painted the trompe l'oeil panelling for the dados. 

 
In the hall, some existing hexagonal tiles were relaid, with new cotto floors elsewhere.  Finally, the flat was carefully furnished with Italian furniture, but with an eye to English comfort, rather in the manner of an Englishman who has lived all his life in Italy.

Availability & booking

Select a changeover day to start your booking...

What's a changeover day? and Why can't I select other dates?Explain MoreQuestion

A changeover day is a particular day of the week when holidays start and end at our properties. These tend to be on a Friday or a Monday but can sometimes vary. All stays run from one changeover day until another changeover day.