The stairway starts from the archway at the Eastern Bank of Rječina river in Rijeka, and leads up to Trsat settlement, which placed on a plateau with altitude of 138 meters from sea level.

The stairway consists 561 stone steps and was built for the pilgrims as the road to the Church of Our Lady of Trsat.

The construction of the votive stairway was begun in 1531 with the Croatian warlord captain Petar Kružić, who excelled in the battles with the Turks.

The porch at the foot of the stairway leading to Trsat has a statue of "Virgin with Child" dating from 1745.

Even today, some pilgrims practise the ancient votive tradition of climbing the steps on their knees.