An 80-year-old man drove his Mercedes-Benz sedan down Rome’s Spanish Steps at 4:30 AM, becoming the second luxury car driver in recent years to turn the historic site into an impromptu ramp and prompting renewed calls for better protections.
At a Glance
- An 80-year-old man drove a Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan down Rome’s Spanish Steps
- The incident occurred at 4:30 AM and the driver tested negative for alcohol
- Firefighters used a crane to remove the vehicle without damaging the landmark
- The Spanish Steps date to the 1720s and are a UNESCO World Heritage site
- A similar incident occurred in 2022 involving a Maserati
Luxury Car vs. Historic Staircase
In the early morning hours this week, an elderly driver mistook one of Rome’s most famous landmarks for a city street. The 80-year-old man drove his Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan partway down the Spanish Steps before becoming hopelessly stuck. According to KETV, municipal police reported that the driver was sober at the time of the incident.
Firefighters were called to the scene and conducted a careful extraction using a crane to lift the car off the 300-year-old marble steps without causing additional harm. The Guardian reported that no pedestrians were injured, as the incident took place before dawn when the area was deserted.
Watch a report: Mercedes Gets Stuck on Spanish Steps.
Not the First Time
This bizarre event mirrors a similar 2022 incident when a Saudi man drove a Maserati down the same staircase, causing significant damage. That driver faced charges of aggravated damage to cultural heritage. Now, many are questioning why adequate barriers have yet to be installed to prevent cars from accessing the steps.
As CNN noted, the Spanish Steps, officially constructed between 1723 and 1725, connect the Piazza di Spagna with the Trinità dei Monti church. The site is part of Rome’s UNESCO World Heritage designation and features prominently in art, film, and tourism.
Calls for Better Protections
Cultural preservationists and city officials are once again urging stronger protective measures. Jalopnik highlighted growing frustration that, despite modern traffic regulations, such an iconic landmark remains vulnerable to vehicle incursions.
Given the increasing frequency of these incidents, some fear the Spanish Steps may become an unintended magnet for drivers seeking viral fame or simply failing to navigate properly due to poor signage and GPS errors. Rome’s authorities have pledged to review current safety measures to ensure that the steps remain protected from further vehicular mishaps.
