The 10 most beautiful stations in the world

Get out your camera, you arrive at the final station. Beautiful turrets frame a dome that hangs over the great hall, marble, glass and gold. No, this isn't another European Cathedral, this Central station, Belgium, Antwerp. Like him, many of the most beautiful stations in the world was built in the late XIX century, in the Golden era when train travel was something new and intriguing. Then the stations were not just transportation nodes, but were symbols of entire empires, architectural and engineering know-how, which today tend to see even those who are not going on the train. So, before you 10 most beautiful train stations in the world.

Antwerp Central station, Belgium

When the construction of this luxury in neo-Baroque style, the building was completed 1905, it was criticized for excessive extravagance. Of course! Were used in the design more than 20 different types of stone and marble. But whatever it was, to resist this eclectic luxury buildings towering over him huge arched dome difficult. (Photo: Roger Price)

The most beautiful views of the vaulted glass ceiling opens with the original (and preserved after extensive reconstruction), the upper platform. (Photo: blenchi)

The St. Pancras, London

The neo-Gothic facade of the station red brick began to gather rave reviews ever since, as soon as it was opened in 1868. This was followed by several years of neglect, and only in the second half of the twentieth century, the station received a huge investment of 800 million pounds, which was completely renovated. (Photo: David McKelvey)

So, its glass roof got rid of a huge amount of dirt and debris of bricks, and over 8,000 damaged Windows were restored. The station began to look as it should, namely as one of the most beautiful Victorian London attractions. (Photo: Susan Allen)

Sirkeci Railway Station, Istanbul

Built in 1890 as the end station of the train Orient Express, going from Paris, this Ottoman building, modern style, especially attractive is its facade. The strip of red brick surround the wide entrance, and colorful stained-glass Windows create the splashes of color inside the building. Despite the fact that the main entrance is now no longer used, people often stop in front of him to admire the structure, and maybe to catch the random performance of the whirling Dervishes, the whirling inside of the great hall. (Photo: dayjolly)

Photo: Özgür Gürgey

Atocha railway station, Madrid

With the opening of the new terminal in 1992, the locals decided to convert the old station, adorning it with a beautiful tropical garden of palm trees reaching high glass roof, and a small pool for turtles. (Photo: Bruce Morrison)

Later they added a night club and several good cafes. The train ticket can not buy here — need to go to a new station, but in order to wait for your train, the best place ever. (Photo: Tory Fink)

Union Station, Los Angeles

In the work on the project of this building father and son, John and Donald Parkinson, used a mix of Spanish colonial style and modern style of art Deco. Tall white colonial ceiling reminiscent of the old station, California, while its main waiting room is lavishly decorated with painted wood walls and multi-colored marble panels on the floor. (Photo: Mark Peacock)

On a Sunny day, in addition, you can stroll in the open air in the backyard, among the taken care of roses and fountains decorated with mosaics. (Photo: Chris Panagakis)

Railway station Sao Bento, Porto, Portugal

Looks like Paris architecture of the XIX century, with a mansard roof and stone facade, this station is, of course, handsome and outside. (Photo by qitsuk)

However, once inside, you will hardly be able to restrain the enthusiastic exclamation. Of course! The walls of the large main hall covered with 20 000 a gorgeous, world-famous Azulejos tiles on painting which the artist Jorge Colaco spent 11 years of his life. Blue and white patterns depict the history of transportation. (Photo: G524_persoon2)

Station Chhatrapati Shivaji, Mumbai, India

The British architect F. W. Stevens listened to the work on this project to local craftsmen in order to dilute the Victorian Gothic revival style of Indian architecture. Originally named in honour of Queen Victoria, the station soon became an important cultural and historical symbol of Mumbai, and the hub, which uses up to three million passengers daily. The building is decorated with many complex elements, peeped in Mongolian and Hindu palaces scattered across the continent. Note the symbolic details at the top of the columns flanking the entrance: sitting on one of them the lion symbolizes the UK, and the tiger India. (Photo: Chris Guy)

Photo: georges

Station, Southern Cross, Melbourne

Formerly named Spencer Street, this station was renamed southern Cross after a hard modernization in 2005. Its wavy roof extends over the whole quarter, and resembles floating on air blanket that is installed on the Y‑shaped columns. (Photo: Jes)

The shape of the roof and provides ventilation: it has the holes where it goes stale indoor air. In the Western part of the station, in addition, pay attention to a colorful mural on the history of transport: it was first installed in 1978, and then removed and restored again after the reconstruction. (Photo: macinate)

Kanazawa Station, Kanazawa, Japan

At first the locals were somewhat alarmed too modern design of the entrance to the station Kanazawa. Wooden columns and handmade glass dome in the form of an umbrella, as it were faced with the traditional architecture of the old city Palace (the best preserved in time of war), which in 2005, is located the station. Soon, however, the station has become so popular among photographers and tourists, fell in love and skeptics, suddenly saw the beauty of the buildings. (Photo: Todd Fong)

After admiring Central futuristic entrance, go around the station and walk to the end where you will find a fountain, which still shows the time. This Is Japan. (Photo by かがみ～)

Grand Central station, new York

This is probably the most cinematic station was built in the early XX century and is full of dazzling architectural details. Giant clock from Tiffany at one of the facades and ending with domed Golden-blue ceiling painted astronomical figures and a scattering of stars. (Photo by gigi_nyc)

Come here early in the morning when the station is not yet crowded with people, relax, sipping cocktails in one of the local bars, or take an audio guide to discover the less well-known elements. (Photo: Jessie Leong)