A serious Neoclassical Revival pile of Indiana limestone, this important structure occupies one of downtown's highest points and is regularly home to some crazy shenanigans. The gold dome is an Atlanta landmark, and a relatively recent one at that: Before the 1950s it was covered in considerably less fancy tin.

Our Depression-era City Hall takes the form of a Neo-Gothic skyscraper that rises 14 stories near the State Capitol. The real showstopper is the lobby, which wows with gilded surfaces, polished marble, original Art Deco lighting, and elevator doors that define "ornate."

This delightfully shabby block was originally built to serve patrons and workers of Atlanta's now demolished Terminal Station. The hotels are gone, but the structures exist in more or less original condition that has attracted plenty of filming lately. While you're at it, be sure to check out one of Atlanta's best remaining commercial blocks from the Victorian era, located at 142 Mitchell Street.

Built as offices and transformed into residential condos, the William-Oliver Building makes for a striking Art Deco landmark in the heart of Five Points. The red granite base supports sixteen stories of limestone; its enthusiastic ornamentation is some of Atlanta's finest from this era. The bronze entrance canopy is a work of art in its own right.

Noted Atlanta architect Philip Shutze designed a massive overhaul of the lower part of this office structure in the 1920s, giving the first three floors of an otherwise routine office building a heavily serious Classical look appropriate for a bank. If possible, be sure to check out the interior of the branch; there's a place you wouldn't mind waiting in line for a teller.

The Healey Building shares the same Neo-Gothic styling as Atlanta City Hall, but was built when that kind of decoration was actually considered fashionable. A twin tower was once planned for the same block; World War II put a damper on those plans. The current condo residents probably appreciate that historical fact as it kept views unimpeded. Your best bet for a beautiful view is the lobby rotunda, one of downtown's more magical interior spaces.

One look at the Candler's over-the-top marble carvings, and there's no doubt this is Atlanta's most luscious office building hailing from the early 20th century. Visible among the marble frosting on this 17-story structure are the likes of Shakespeare and Raphael, various flora and fauna, and a double pair of stern looking atlantes (the buff dudes holding up the entrances). Asa Candler — founder of the Coca Cola empire — spared no expense making this a showplace. Don't miss the building's lobby, which continues the extravagant aesthetic but with the addition of brass and crystal.

There's not much to see at street level (a plaza and some blank walls), but there's no denying the distinctive silhouette the GPC forms on Atlanta's skyline. Looking up at the building's uninterrupted rise from its southern face is a dehumanizing experience indeed. Side note: "Gone with the Wind" premiered at the Loew's Grand Theater which occupied this site until going up in flames in the late 1970s.

John Burgee Architects teamed up with Philip Johnson to give downtown its most distinctive Postmodern skyscraper, which almost looks like two towers owing to a clever recess in the middle of the shaft. A grandly arched entrance on Peachtree Street leads to a lobby done up in an encyclopedia of marbles; The tower's setback keeps it from completely overwhelming Peachtree.