Stories
World's 7 Most Beautiful Train Stations of 2026 Unveiled at Prix Versailles
- •The 2026 Prix Versailles, announced at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, highlights the world's seven most beautiful train stations.
- •Monte Sant’Angelo Station in Naples, Italy, designed by Anish Kapoor and Future Systems, features a 48-meter descent through dramatic Corten steel and aluminum tunnels inspired by Mount Vesuvius.
- •Rome's Colosseo–Fori Imperiali Station doubles as an underground museum, integrating excavated Roman relics and offering an oculus view of the Colosseum.
- •Riyadh's National Museum Station, designed by Arup, boasts a carved concrete shell inspired by Tuwaiq Mountain, with Najdi triangular openings casting patterns on blue interiors.
- •Melbourne's Town Hall Station, designed by Hassell, RSHP, and WW+P, features cathedral-like underground spaces with tree-like columns and 10-meter-high copper-vaulted ceilings.
- •Lyon Part-Dieu Station in France, redesigned by AREP and L’AUC, includes France’s largest bike parking garage and a multi-level gallery inspired by historic traboules.
- •The LAX/Metro Transit Center in Los Angeles, designed by Grimshaw, Gruen Associates, and Arup, is an 11-acre facility bridging the light rail network directly to Los Angeles International Airport.
Key Questions Answered
The 2026 Prix Versailles unveiled at UNESCO headquarters in Paris highlighted seven stations: Monte Sant’Angelo in Naples, Colosseo–Fori Imperiali in Rome, National Museum and Western stations in Riyadh, Town Hall in Melbourne, Lyon Part-Dieu in France, and the LAX/Metro Transit Center in Los Angeles.
Monte Sant’Angelo Station is located in Naples, Italy. It was designed by Anish Kapoor and Future Systems as a monumental subterranean sculpture where passengers descend 48 meters through Corten steel and aluminum tunnel openings.
The Colosseo–Fori Imperiali station in Rome descends 30 meters into ancient bedrock and doubles as an underground museum. It integrates excavated Roman relics directly into its layout and features an oculus framing views of the Colosseum above.
