Police say the man tested negative for alcohol but did not divulge whether or not he had been using a satnav

An image provided by Rome firefighters on the car stuck on the Spanish Steps. Photograph: Vigili del Fuoco

An 80-year-old man drove a car down the Spanish Steps in Rome early on Tuesday before getting stuck part way, municipal police said in a statement.

The man tested negative for alcohol, police said. They did not identify the driver or say if the car, a Mercedes-Benz, was his. Nor did they say whether or not he had been using a satnav.

Firefighters later used a crane to remove the vehicle. Police did not respond to requests for more details about the incident.

Firefighters remove the car from the scene. Photograph: Vigili del Fuoco

One of Rome’s most recognisable monuments, the Spanish Steps were never intended 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 recorded him driving a rented Maserati down the 135 travertine steps in 2022.

The Spanish Steps take their name from the Spanish embassy to the Holy See in a nearby square. A backdrop used in numerous films, they were built in the 1720s and have long been a popular spot.