ROME — An 80-year-old man drove a compact luxury Mercedes-Benz A Class sedan down Rome’s iconic Spanish Steps early Tuesday before becoming stuck partway down, municipal police said in a statement.
According to police, the man tested negative for alcohol and was cited on the spot for driving down the monument in Rome’s historic center. Police said the man, a Rome resident, couldn’t explain how he ended up driving down the famous steps. They did not release his name, and it was unclear whether the car was his.
The small sporty automobile was eventually retrieved by firefighters using a crane. Police did not respond to requests for more information about the circumstances surrounding the apparent accident.
The Spanish Steps, one of Rome’s most recognizable monuments, were never designed for motor vehicles, though some thrill seekers have tried their luck. A Saudi man was charged with aggravated damage to cultural heritage after a surveillance camera caught him driving a rented Maserati down the 135 travertine steps in 2022.
The Spanish Steps are named after the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See in the nearby square. They were built in the 1720s and have long been a popular spot for people watching and hanging out, serving as the backdrop for numerous films.
