Without Lifting A Finger





The Column of the Immaculate Conception or la Colonna della Immacolata , is a nineteenth-century monument in central Rome depicting the Blessed Virgin Mary , located in what is called Piazza Mignanelli, towards the south east extension of Piazza di Spagna . It was placed aptly in front of the offices of the Palazzo di Propaganda Fide (offices for promulgating the faith), now renamed the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples . The Marian monument was designed by the architect Luigi Poletti and commissioned by Ferdinand II, King of the Two Sicilies . In part, he wanted to put closure to the dispute between Naples and the Papal States that had developed in the last century, when Naples abolished the Chinea , a yearly tribute offered to the Pope as ultimate sovereign of Naples. [From Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Column_of_the_Immaculate_Conception,_Rome ]

Woke to it every morning, so I figured it was worth a shot. I take the impressionistic floral blur on the steps for crowds of people (what else -- flowers?). What do you think? A typical touristy, bedroom-waller. * 

Have been in or around the Spanish Steps at least three times. This time: multiple times, as we stayed just a block away. You should always leave something for "next time." For me it will be many things, but at least one of those will be the Keats-Shelley House.             

The Spanish Steps ( Italian : Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti ) are a set of steps in Rome , Italy , climbing a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, dominated by the Trinità dei Monti church at the top. The monumental stairway of 135 steps (the slightly elevated drainage system is often mistaken for the first step) was built with French diplomat Étienne Gueffier’s bequeathed funds of 20,000 scudi , in 1723–1725, linking the Bourbon Spanish Embassy , and the Trinità dei Monti church that was under the patronage of the Bourbon kings of France, both located above — to the Holy See in Palazzo Monaldeschi located below. The stairway was designed by architects Francesco de Sanctis and Alessandro Specchi . [From Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Steps ]

This was our 3rd time at Ristorante 34. Discovered it years ago. One of the hardest working waiters in the world works here. The itinerant accordion player is also ubiquitous. The girl just happened to be in the way. *     

We walked from the train station in Rome to our hotel near the Spanish Steps. These pics are from our first night. *