Azaleas return to Spanish Steps for first time since 2015.

The Spanish Steps, which link Piazza di Spagna with the church of Trinità de’ Monti, are currently in full bloom with dozens of azalea plants.

An annual tradition dating back 80 years, the azaleas did not appear in 2016 due to the staircase being covered by scaffolding for restoration works sponsored by luxury jeweller Bulgari.

The plants were cultivated in the capital’s nurseries at S. Sisto where for around a century 3,000 azaleas of the Rhododenron Indicum variety have flourished.

Once the azaleas have ceased flowering they will be returned to the city nurseries until next spring.

Photos provided by Keats Shelley House, situated adjacent to the staircase.