Spanish Steps (Washington D.C.) Spanish Steps (Washington D.C.) The Spanish Steps are an urban arrangement in the Kalorama neighborhood of Washington, D.C., on 22nd Street NW just south of S Street NW. Inspired by the City Beautiful movement, the steps accommodate a steep difference of level between S Street and the parallel immediately to the south, Decatur Place NW. Named with reference to the Spanish Steps in Rome, though obviously of no comparable scale and grandeur, they were designed by local architect George Oakley Totten Jr. for the Municipal Office of Public Works and Grounds, and built in 1905. A granite lion-head fountain is
Spanish Steps set in a house next to the Steps. The Steps were featured prominently in the film version of "The Talented Mr. Ripley" starring Matt Damon in the title role. The progressive rock group Refugee recorded the song "Credo" in 1974, which contains the lyric: "I believe in constant pauses / Like a Roman holiday / And I often stop for air / As I climb the Spanish stairs". The Bob Dylan song "When I Paint My Masterpiece," first recorded in 1971 by The Band and later appearing on the album "Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. II", mentions both the "Spanish