Aim. We present an analysis of the correlation of functional and ideological components in the formation and development of the urban landscape. Methodology. Use is made of the landscape-cultural approach (the study of the associativity of the urban landscape, its understanding as the arena of life and activity of the creators of culture and the appearance of certain cultural phenomena) and landscape-dynamic approach (urban landscapes are considered in the aggregate of more stable components and more variable components, i.e., urban sites and the states of urban landscapes, respectively). Results. Examples of various cities in Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Norilsk, Yoshkar-Ola, etc.) and other countries (Rome, Paris, Helsinki, Skopje, etc.) show (i) how the idea determines the structure of the urban environment, and the change of ideas forms the palimpsest of urban space, and (ii) how the ideas underlying the formation of cities affect the functions performed by the city, and vice versa. The main factors of the formation of urban landscapes, which influence the ratio of the role of function and idea in the space of the city, are considered. The role of the idea (concept) is especially significant in shaping the landscapes of the capitals of states at crucial moments in history. It is shown that the implementation of such ideas by means of urban planning, architecture, monumental sculpture often leads to radical changes in the appearance of the largest cities, especially in their central parts. Quite often, ideas, which are usually carried by the authorities, influence the formation of non-metropolitan cities, especially administrative centers. The centers of cities that bear the imprint of the dominant idea or ideology to the greatest extent may shift in the space of the city over time. In the history of any city, the relationship between an idea and a function is a complex process, during which the ratio of their impact on the formation of the landscape of the city can repeatedly change. Research implications. The obtained results contribute to the study of patterns of formation and development of urban landscapes in connection with socio-political processes in the respective countries. Application of the results is possible in the field of urban landscape planning.