Three spiral stunners in Center City

Spiral staircases can be a blessing and a curse. They're romantic and make for an interesting architectural feature. But then, they're dizzying, and they make moving furniture upstairs more than a bit of a pain. These three Center City Philadelphia properties feature elegant spiral staircases that make the inconveniences worthwhile.

608 Spruce St.
$2,475,000
Monthly taxes: $1,849
Tell me all about it: This four-bedroom Society Hill stunner was built in 1804 by a ship painter. It features a striking view from the first-floor living room: the lower-level great room. A spiral staircase connects all three floors, including the second-floor master suite. The second floor comprises the entire suite and includes a fireplace as well as soundproof windows.

227 S. Sixth St., Unit 5NE
$1,795,000
Monthly taxes: $1,930
Tell me all about it: This three-bedroom unit in the Lippincott overlooks Washington Square and features one of our favorite Center City amenities: a fabulous roof deck. To ascend to the rooftop oasis, one must climb a lovely wrought iron spiral staircase. We love the master suite with its jetted tub and dual walk-in closets.

149 S. Hancock St.
$1,895,000
Monthly taxes: $949
Tell me all about it: As much as we love the fourth-floor of this warehouse renovation (it is entirely master suite), we are here for the lower level, which is accessed by spiral staircase. The basement features two finished rooms and a full bath, so we're betting the spiral is there to save space that would otherwise be allocated to a staircase. The roof deck is pretty fabulous here, too. And while we love a spiral stair, we love that you can get to the roof by private elevator.