The Palace of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, located on Széchenyi István Square in Budapest, is one of the defining public buildings of the city and has become a symbol of Hungarian learning. When it was built, the Palace was a groundbreaking and significant example of the neo-Renaissance style that went on to influence the architectural development of the capital itself. The elegant arrangement of the interior and the sculptural and painted decoration of the major rooms are in keeping with the importance of the building's function.