Urban art is usually associated with graffiti-ridden ghettos, not attractive beach resorts. But the LGBTI-friendly city of St Pete is exceptional.
Murals have spread across the city on Florida’s west coast in recent years. And the authorities have embraced this new generation’s way of beautifying the place they love.
After all, St Petersburg is no ordinary beach town. Since 2010 AmericanStyle Magazine has ranked it number one ‘America’s Arts Destination’ for mid-sized cities.
St Pete’s urban artists respect each other’s masterpieces. The murals haven’t sparked vandalism or tagging. They’ve inspired more art, with icons and themes often taken from the city’s cultural past.
And if you’re looking for free-loving, liberation-building, queer-styling art, you’ll find it everywhere.
Here are some of our favorites:
Discover the St Pete murals yourself
You can take a St Pete Mural Tour or find out more about the artists here.
St Petersburg is an LGBTI-friendly – actually, just friendly – beach resort with crystal-clear waters, white sand and Florida sunshine. It also boasts fantastic art, quirky boutique shops, delicious food, good cafés and welcoming bars. Find out more about St Petersburg-Clearwater here.
A double standard room at the grand-dame of St Pete’s hotels, The Vinoy Renaissance, starts from $169. You can book your stay via the Marriott site.
Virgin Atlantic flies daily from London Gatwick to Orlando, from where you can transfer to St Pete. It offers Economy fares from £520 per person. For further visit the Virgin Atlantic site or call 0844 2092 770 if you are in the UK.
