Famous Buildings
Walking round St. Petersburg, its impossible not to wonder at the sheer wealth and variety of architecture created in only 300 years. In contrast to the drab tower blocks of the outskirts, almost none of the buildings in the historical centre can be described as utilitarian, and generation after generation of architectural fashion, starting from Petrine baroque and leading through rococo and high neoclassicism to the riotous eclecticism of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, is given full untrammeled expression in St. Petersburg's numerous remarkable public buildings, which range in function from riding schools to railway stations, from government offices to upmarket stores.
Neoclassicism, whether in its first 18th century incarnation or in the various revivals that followed, up to and including Stalinism, dominates St. Petersburg's government buildings, with classical forms and decorations adapted to the peculiarities of the city's climate and building codes.
The majority of St. Petersburg's famous banks and stores date back to the turn of the 20th century, possibly the most intriguing and inventive period for architecture in the city, when architects adapted and blended Art Nouveau with an eclectic range of other traditional styles.
St. Petersburgers rightfully pride themselves on the city's rich traditions of musical theatre, drama, and classical music, renowned throughout the world. Although less famous, the buildings where these traditions were born and nurtured are masterpieces in their own right.
There are over 30 institutes of higher education in St. Petersburg, as well as numerous academies and research institutions. While some have beautiful purpose-built campuses dating from the 19th century, others are housed in a variety of buildings left over from the Tsarist era.
Amongst its other claims to fame, St. Petersburg was an industrial powerhouse in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While this side of the city is usually ignored by visitors, there are nonetheless some superb examples of industrial architecture to be sought out.
From palatial 19th century railway stations to the richly ornamented stations of the Stalinist-era metro system, Russia's transport networks boast a wealth of beautifully designed and unusually lavish buildings.
