Watch Your Step! And Have A Look On The Most Astonishing Staircases In The World

S tair climbing requires 8-9 times more energy expenditure than sitting and burns about 7 times more calories than taking a lift. you burn about 0.17 calories for every step you climb, so you burn roughly a calorie and a half for every 10 upward steps. You also burn calories going down.

From the simple, straight-flight staircase to the medieval spiral (designed to give an advantage during a sword fight), here’s our list of the world’s most amazing staircases!

Spanish Steps (ROME, ITALY)

The Spanish Steps, one of Rome’s most recognizable attractions, was originally intended as a gateway to the Trinità dei Monti church. The elegant staircase of 135 steps was inaugurated in 1725 by Pope Benedict XIII and named after the Spanish Embassy to the Vatican that has been located in the bordering Piazza di Spagna since the 1600s. The steps have been featured in many films, had fashion runway shows staged on them, and are beautifully decked out with pots of azaleas in spring and a 19th-century nativity scene during the holidays.

Lion Rock ( Sigiriya, Sri Lanka )

Climbing the Lion Rock is one of the must-do things in Sri Lanka. The rock is 660 ft tall and the over 1,500 years old preserved ancient palace ruins on top can only be accessed by climbing 1,200 (!) steps. Halfway up the rock on a small plateau, two lions paws mark the entrance to the final ascent. To reach the top, visitors have to master steep, narrow, slippery limestone stairs, man-made walkways, and a vertical winding staircase (enclosed within a wire cage). The rewards are close-up views of frescos along the rock wall and incredible views.

Chand Baori (Abhaneri, India)

Chand Baori is a stepwell built in the 9th century in the Abhaneri village of Rajasthan. With 3,500 narrow steps arranged in perfect symmetry, it is India’s largest and steepest stepwell and one of the most unusual staircases in the world. The steps descend 13 stories (65 feet) to the bottom of the water storage facility. On three sides, the stairs encircle the water, while on the fourth side a three-stored pavilion boasts carved jharokhas (a type of overhanging enclosed balcony), galleries supported on pillars, and two projecting balconies enshrining beautiful sculptures.

Momo Staircase (Vatican Museums, Vatican )

The Momo Staircase, also called the Snail Staircase or Simonetti Staircase, is formed by two separate wrought iron stairways–one going up, one going down–which twist together to form a double helix. This design allows people ascending without meeting people descending, thus guaranteeing uninterrupted traffic in each direction in the popular Vatican museums. It is unlikely that the Vatican realized in 1932 when commissioning the Italian architect Giuseppe Simonetti that this staircase would become one of the most photographed in the world.

Monumental Steps of Bom Jesus do Montee (Braga, Portugal)

Bom Jesus do Monte is a pilgrimage site outside the city of barge with an outdoor Baroque staircase that climbs 381 feet. The staircase of dark granite covered in white plaster is known as the Sacred Way and leads to the 18th-century sanctuary of Bom Jesus (Good Jesus) on top of the hill. Although there are no visions of saints associated with the place, many pilgrims choose to uphold tradition and climb up the zig-zagging 577 steps on their knees. Each sense (sight, smell, hearing, touch, taste) is represented by a different fountain along the stairways giving the idea of purification of the faithful.

Umschreibung (Munich, Germany)

Hidden within an office building complex in Munich, this is a stairway to heaven … or nowhere at all. Umschreibung , which means “transcription” or “rewriting,” was erected in 2004 by Danish sculptor and installation artist Olafur Eliasson. The steel structure is nearly 30 feet tall and shaped like a double helix. While it doesn’t actually lead anywhere, there is a small opening at the bottom of the steps and a quick climb guarantees great views or a welcome distraction from work.

Baroque Spiral Staircase of Melk Abbey (Melk, Austria )

Milk abbey was founded in 1089 and sits on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube River. The spiral staircase with Roccoco grate leads from the small library room to other library rooms, which are closed to the public. The undersides of the stone steps have been painted in great detail, adding to Melk Abbey’s reputation as one of the world’s most beautiful monastic sites. Other highlights are the stately royal rooms, the golden, glittering church, and the ceiling fresco by Austrian painter Paul Troger.

Tulip Stairs (London, England)

In the Queen’s House in greenwich, the elegant Tulip Stairs, an original feature from the 17th century, were the first geometric self-supporting spiral stairs in Britain. The bright shade of blue paint that coats the wrought-iron structure is made of crushed glass, and restaurateurs have followed this method ever since. The name of the stairs comes from the floral patterns on it, though the flowers in the balustrade are believed to be fleurs-de-lis. In 1966, the Rev R. W. Hardy’s took a famous “ghost” photograph which appears to depict two or three shrouded figures on the Tulip Stairs.

Red Staircase at Livraria Lello\ (Porto, Portugal)

One of the oldest bookstores in Portugal, Livraria Lello or Lello Bookshop features an opulent red staircase. The bookshop and with it the staircase were designed by Francisco Xavier Esteves, an engineer who made the flight of steps stand with very little support from below. Seen from atop, the staircase resembles two streams of water flowing into one. Additionally, Livraria Lello also features a stained glass ceiling and carved wooden shelves that hold centuries-old books. The bookstore proofed inspirational for J.K. Rowling, creator of the Harry Potter series when she taught English in Porto.

Rococo Staircase at Palazzo Biscari's (Catania, Italy) Palazzo Biscari, a privately owned villa in imperious Baroque style in Catania, is home to an elegant white Rococo-inspired staircase. Its décor is unparalleled in all of Sicily and features panels of dense rococo stucco, a complex balustrade design and magnificent 18th-century frescos above the door of the gallery. Built-in several stages from 1707 to 1763, Palazzo Biscari’s ornate interior is decorated in the rococo style and houses collections of paintings, vases, coins, and other antique exhibits.