Uralsib, Banking skyscraper in Ufa, Russia
Uralsib is a 26-floor office tower in central Ufa, clad in tinted glass panels with gray-brown exterior elements. It serves as the headquarters of Uralsib Financial Corporation and stands as one of the most recognizable buildings on the city skyline.
The tower was completed in 1999 and was the first building outside Moscow's ring road to reach around 100 meters in height. It held the title of tallest building in Ufa until 2018, when newer construction surpassed it.
Locals call the tower "the candle" because of its tall, narrow shape rising above the surrounding rooftops. Every December, a large Santa Claus figure is lit up on the roof, making the building easy to spot from across the city.
The tower sits on Revolyutsionnaya Street in central Ufa and is easy to reach by public transport. The area around it has cafes and shops, so it fits naturally into a walk through the city center.
At the base of the tower, a two-story red brick building from the early 20th century has been kept in place. It once housed the Second Mariinsky Women's School, and you can still see it from the street, sitting right against the glass facade above it.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
