DC is a city that has many famous sights. But it’s also a city of secret spots and hidden treasures. Some of these the guidebooks have found and tourists have started to find. But not all of them. The Spanish Steps are a secret oasis that is hiding right in the middle of the city.
The Spanish Steps were built in 1911. They were built when DC was experiencing a movement called the "City Beautiful." The philosophy was based on the belief that beauty in the city would instill in residents a sense of civic duty and pride.
The route between S Street and Decatur Place was too steep for vehicles and city planners wanted to connect the two. So they created a pedestrian link between the two streets. Simply put the steps were meant to connect streets. But they have become something much greater.
At the second tier the staircases split at a shallow brick terrace with an oval-shaped basin and small lion-head fountain. Both staircases on either side curve around the fountain to the upper terrace and S Street.
If they had been built in any other time, the Spanish Steps may have been a simple staircase but they are something quite extraordinary in their peaceful charm.
Today, the Spanish Steps are the perfect place for locals to escape and relax. You can often find locals grabbing a quick bite to eat, reading on the steps or sitting on one of the terraces and chatting.
In the evenings, you can usually spot a couple or two having a romantic moment hidden away from the world. Every now and then you may catch an engagement or wedding photoshoot happening at the steps.
