Article by Anna Radie
Where in the world can you find homes from the Victorian era standing against the backdrop of imposing ultra-modern skyscrapers? The best place to see this wonderful dichotomy is the lovely San Francisco city with breathtaking Victorian architecture standing shoulder to shoulder with latest urban design.
The Victorian style mansions and architecture in San Francisco can be found in the mansions of the famous Victorian Cow Hollow commercial district, Western Addition, Haight and in the amazing mansions of Pacific Heights.
History
Victorian style architecture originated in Europe and became extremely popular during the reign of Queen Victoria between 1837 and 1901in Great Britain. In the USA, it started gaining popularity during the period 1850 and 1915. There are a variety of Victorian styles and each style has its own unique characteristics.
The unique characteristics of Victorian architecture are elaborate designs, embellishments and complex structure. Unlike the old style homes, the Victorian homes are very intricate and decorative in designs.
As people from different parts of the world came and settled in San Francisco, the Victorian architecture got influenced by various cultures. You can see a mix of French palaces, medieval Carpenter Gothic style mansions, Italian style, and regal Queen Anne style in these designs.
Before the civil war, most of the Victorian homes were generally painted in earth shades. But after the civil war, home owners switched to brighter hues. Nowadays, it is common to find Victorian mansions in 2-3 different bright colors. Even if you are visiting the grand San Francisco city for the first time, you won't have any problem locating these splendid mansions.
All you need to do to see these wonderful mansions of San Francisco is to hire a limo from a reputed airport limo services provider, sit back and travel without any hassles. The limo drivers of these limo rental companies know the San Francisco city inside out and they can escort you to all these Victorian style marvels in absolute luxury. Styles of Victorian architectureIn San Francisco, three main styles of Victorian architecture are dominant. These are - Queen Anne, Stick and Italianate. Queen Anne- The shape of this style of house is asymmetrical. They are characterized by steep gabled roof, slanted bay windows and a tower. Stick- Unlike Queen Anne style, they have flat roofs and square bay windows.Italianate- As the name suggests it, it is highly influenced by the architecture of Renaissance Italy. The features of this style include flat roof lines, angled bay windows and corniced eaves. Some other styles are present too such as Gothic, Tudor and Greek revival but they are not as popular. All these styles of Victorian architecture are scattered in the vast San Francisco city.
Painted ladies of San FranciscoThe term 'Painted ladies' is used for a row of stunningly beautiful Victorian houses situated on Alamo Square. You can find the best of Victorian homes here which has made Alamo Square one of the most photographed sites in San Francisco. The sight of stunning Victorian homes against the backdrop of tall skyscrapers of the city is breathtaking. Some of the Victorian homes here have been converted into Bed & Breakfasts while some are open for public viewing. The experience of driving down the Alamo Square and sighting all these breathtaking beautiful Victorian mansions in the vast San Francisco city is something that can't be described in words.
The tour of the lively San Francisco city is incomplete if you haven't viewed the majestic Victorian style mansions which adorn the city. In fact the best way to make the most of your San Francisco tour is to hire a luxurious limo from a San Francisco airport limo service and explore the San Francisco city and its breathtaking Victorian architecture in style and comfort.