The Kotelnicheskaya embankment building
Communist paradises
These mega-structures are indeed sister buildings. Although the buildings have Baroque, Gothic and Orthodox style influences, they all feature a central tower with adjacent wings. The ‘Sisters’ have garnered numerous accolades: one is the tallest hotel in the world, another contains the largest chandelier, and the university is the highest educational building in the world. The lavish interior features many opulent decorations. Everything is stunning, from the marble stairways in the university building to the ceiling paintings in the hotel and the lavishly decorated towers in the apartment buildings.
The lobby of the Hilton
Real Russian ambiance
The Leningradskaya was built in 1954 as a luxurious Soviet hotel. In recent years the building underwent extensive restorations and has been transformed into an international Hilton hotel. The Russian ambiance has been preserved: bronze chandeliers and marble pillars dominate the lobby decorated with frescos and ornamental mouldings. The rooms today are more spacious and furnished with contemporary Russian design. Book a room on one of the higher floors in the tower for a spectacular city view. One of the other Stalinist towers now houses the Radisson Royal Hotel. The original ceiling paintings in the lobby and classic décor of the 497 rooms evoke the ambiance of a palace on the Moskva River. Indeed, the rooms are priced accordingly. But even if you choose to stay elsewhere, you can still visit the Mercedes Bar on the 31st floor. Everyone is welcome for a cocktail with a view.
