Francesco de Sanctis
Francesco De Sanctis (1679 in Rome – 1731) was a late Baroque Italian architect, most notable for his design of the Spanish Steps in Rome in collaboration with Alessandro Specchi. 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 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.
Also recorded as Francesco De Sanctis
Francesco de Sanctis
- Born
- 1679 · Rome.
- Died
- 1731 · Rome.
- Nationality
- Papal States
- Occupation
- architect
- Known for
- Spanish Steps
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Francesco De Sanctis (1679 in Rome – 1731) was a late Baroque Italian architect, most notable for his design of the Spanish Steps in Rome in collaboration with Alessandro Specchi. 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 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.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Francesco de Sanctis. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q982003
In this article
Gallery
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 by Carlo Fontana, and Borsani Claudio.
• Illustration — The Spanish Steps in an engraving by Piranesi • Illustration — Facade of Trinità dei Pellegrini • Illustration — The Steps in a 1908 photograph
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
authority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Design
11,558 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Francesco CroceDesigner
- Francesco da MostoDesigner
- Francesco Dal CoDesigner
- Francesco DattaroDesigner
- Francesco di GiorgioDesigner
- Francesco FerrariDesigner
- Francesco FicheraDesigner
- Francesco FiorentinoDesigner
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Francesco de Sanctis?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.