Elderly Man Drives Car Down Rome’s Iconic 300-Year-Old Spanish Steps

Tourists and locals were left stunned when an 80-year-old man accidentally drove his Mercedes down Rome’s historic Spanish Steps—one of Italy’s most iconic and strictly pedestrian-only landmarks.

The incident occurred early on the morning of June 18, when the driver steered his silver Mercedes A-Class onto the Trinità dei Monti staircase, better known as the Spanish Steps. Built between 1721 and 1725, the 135-step marble staircase connects the Piazza di Spagna to the Trinità dei Monti church and is a UNESCO-recognized cultural treasure.

According to Italian authorities, vehicles are strictly prohibited in the area. The car became stuck midway down the steps, prompting firefighters to deploy a crane to remove it. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and officials confirmed the monument itself was not damaged. However, the driver was reported to the judicial authorities for breaching public safety regulations.

Police noted that the man was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs but appeared disoriented. Italian media described him as wearing a suit and calmly speaking with officers at the scene.

Footage shared on social media shows the vehicle slowly descending the steps, leading some bystanders to initially believe it was a movie shoot. “At first I thought they were filming,” said a hotel night shift worker who witnessed the event. “But there was no crew—just this car rolling down one of the most historic sites in Italy. It’s outrageous.”

The Spanish Steps are a major tourist attraction and cultural heritage site, anchored by the famed Barcaccia Fountain—designed by Pietro and Gian Lorenzo Bernini—at the base. Italian law imposes heavy penalties for damaging cultural monuments, including fines exceeding €2,000 and up to one year in jail.

Despite strict regulations, the landmark has been targeted before. In 2022, an American tourist pushed an electric scooter down the stairs, causing €25,000 in damage. That same year, another driver mistakenly took a Maserati down the steps.

Local officials say increased security and barriers may be needed to prevent future incidents. “Rome’s heritage is irreplaceable,” one cultural preservation official told reporters. “It deserves better than this.”

(Source: NYT)