From the 1-st of May to the 31-st of May in Rome on The Spanish Steps, Piazza di Spagna will be held a spring Azalea Festival.

The Eighteenth century Baroque Spanish Steps take on a red mantle in spring. No-one is entirely sure why azaleas are chosen, apart from the fact they are in season at that time and are a wonderful colour. The wide and shallow steps are covered with pots of these beautiful scarlet flowers so as you ascend to the mount from the Piazza di Spagna, it is as if you have become royalty for the day and walk upon a red carpet.

The reason the flowers are laid on the steps is apparently to commemorate the coming of spring, which in Roman legend is thanks to Persephone's ascent from the Underworld when she escapes the clutches of Pluto and his Underworld kingdom.