The Spanish Steps Is The Best Secret Oasis In Dc

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.

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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.

Yelp/Ann P.

Because there was a focus on beauty, the Spanish Steps were intricately built to be a beautiful four part staircase.

Flickr/Mr.TinDC

The steps begin with two elegant lamp posts and they are lined with leafy green magnolias, oaks and other plants and flowers on either side.

Yelp/Karen V.

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.

Flickr/Robert Lyle Bolton

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.

Flickr/Victoria Pickering

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.

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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.

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So when you need to take a moment and escape the world, step into the Spanish Steps. Enjoy the beauty of this elegant and one of a kind park in DC.

Yelp/David K.

There are many secret oases around DC! Visit these 13 hidden spots around DC where you can find peace and quiet!