Francesco De Sanctis (1679, Rome – 1731) was a late Baroque Italian architect, most notable for his design of the

Spanish Steps The Spanish Steps ( it, Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti) in Rome, Italy, climb 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 stairwa ...

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

in collaboration with

Alessandro Specchi Alessandro Specchi (1668 – 16 November 1729) was an Italian architect and engraver. Biography Born in 1668 in Rome, he trained as an architect under Carlo Fontana. He also specialized as an engraver and made a well known series of plates ...

. These were built between 1723 and 1726 to celebrate the peace treaty between France and Spain, linking the top of the hill (under French influence, with the church of

Trinità dei Monti The church of the Santissima Trinità dei Monti, often called merely the Trinità dei Monti ( French: ''La Trinité-des-Monts''), is a Roman Catholic late Renaissance titular church in Rome, central Italy. It is best known for its position above ...

and French monastic institutions) to the Spanish embassy to the Holy See at the bottom of the hill. The design left out some of the richer elements of De Sanctis's original design, such as grand fountains at a break in the steps and two rows of trees down either side to give shade and refreshment to those climbing the steps. His other known works are the elegant facade of the church of Trinità dei Pellegrini, with a concave profile, an 18th-century version of

San Marcello al Corso San Marcello al Corso, a church in Rome, Italy, is a titular church whose cardinal-protector normally holds the (intermediary) rank of cardinal-priest. The church, dedicated to Pope Marcellus I (d. AD 309), is located just inset from Via de ...

Carlo Fontana Carlo Fontana (1634 or 1638–1714) was an Italian architect originating from today's Canton Ticino, who was in part responsible for the classicizing direction taken by Late Baroque Roman architecture. Biography There seems to be no proof tha ...

, and

Borsani Claudio Borsani is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Osvaldo Borsani (1911–1985), Italian architect and furniture designer * Pierina Borsani (1909–1960), Italian basketball player * , Argentinian politician {{surname, Borsani ...

Gallery

Image:Piazza di spagna.gif, The Spanish Steps in an engraving by Piranesi Image:TrinitaPellegrini.jpg, Facade of Trinità dei Pellegrini Image:Spanische-Treppe.jpg, The Steps in a 1908 photograph

Bibliography

* P. Portoghesi, ''Roma barocca'', Bari 1998, pp. 355–364 e 577 * E. Settimi, ''Notizie d'archivio sull'opera di Francesco De Sanctis'', in "Palladio", II, 1989 {{DEFAULTSORT:de Sanctis, Francesco 1679 births 1731 deaths 18th-century Italian architects Italian Baroque architects Architects from Rome sv:Francesco de Sanctis