The Spanish Steps of Washington is a mere fraction of its namesake in Rome, but the Kalorama neighborhood marble oasis is a pleasant distraction and often place to rest.

Built in 1911 by architect Robert E. Cook as part of the Municipal Office of Public Works and Grounds as part of the City Beautiful movement, the steps atop 22^nd St. were needed when horse-drawn carriages couldn’t scale the steep hill from DeCatur Place to S St. N.W.