Berlin, a very pleasant surprise! Journey of a week to the capital of Germany

It was an idea of Roberta to come visit this beautiful city which has identified a real surprise. I was a bit 'dubious, I seemed to be a place austere, serious, maybe even a bit' boring but Berlin is a lively, bright, and our stay was very pleasant in all respects.

Berlin is perhaps the youngest European capital. Since 1991, the capital of the new Federal Republic of Germany which was established following the collapse of the wall, in 1989, which until then had divided East Germany from West Germany.
If such capital is still young as a city with a rich history since about 1237 when he was born as a mere settlement of fishermen. Over time it became an important trading center, the capital of Prussia and finally the capital of the German Empire (1871). The events and history in the last century, have characterized the fate and life of this city belong to the pages of history we all know very well. The ideas of Nazism, the protagonists and the events that led to years of brutality and violence throughout Europe are not just a chapter in the history books to study, or read much literature from the history of this city and his nation but are part of the history of Europe and beyond. But although we know the brutality of this period, it seems that mankind has not learned anything. There were then and there are still corners of the world where various ideologies and beliefs different generate violence and destruction, where the story seems to have taught nothing, where violence seems the only weapon available.
World War II began with the invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, but already many Jews in previous years were due to migrate to escape the Nazi regime and already one year before the Great War, during the night 9 and 10 November 1938 hundreds of synagogues, cemeteries, Jewish homes and shops throughout the country were looted and burned. This night, known as the Night of Broken Glass (Kristallnacht) was only the tip of a much larger iceberg .. Berlin, like many other cities was the scene of this brutal war, the conclusion of the war was a city destroyed, its buildings collapsed, its streets a pile of rubble to his people poor, hungry, destroyed by years of war, violence and fear. The Potsdam Conference of 1945 divided Berlin into four sectors, respectively occupied by Russian troops, American, English and French. Scoring again the fate of this city that found itself the center, the focus of another war that saw feature the intelligence of this country: the Cold War. In 1949 came the German Federal Republic with its capital Bonn and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) with its capital East Berlin to stem the continuous leakage of refugees from East to West in 1961 the GDR built what was the symbol of an era, in this city: the Berlin Wall. Only in 1989 the borders were reopened after the fall of the wall. Although I was little more than a teen-ager, I remember the images broadcast by all television news, the moments that marked the end of an era and marks the beginning of a new one. On October 3, 1990, Germany was unified Berlin chosen as capital of the country where, in 1991, was also transferred to the government.

 

After spending the morning and the afternoon in the office we are at the bus stop for Caselle airport. We bought tickets on the website of Lufthansa and just under € 150, with a stopover in Frankfurt, will arrive in Berlin around 21.30. The trip was quiet and a call between the other we also had time for a snack. Arrived in Berlin, retrieved our luggage, we immediately take the TXL bus for € 2.10 and takes us directly into the city for me and Roberta is particularly convenient because our hostel is less than 5 minutes walk from the stop this bus.
We chose to stay Amstel House (Waldenserstr 31-10551 - info@amstelhouse.de), a very beautiful and also recently renovated and the choice made based on the images on the site and has identified a number of comments spot on. The room we chose a double room with bath cost us € 42 per night. Breakfast costs € 5 per person and instead has a rich buffet, both sweet and salty. We must bring towels, and bed linen is provided. You can, however, for those who forget them at home, rent towels.

After a good breakfast we leave the hostel for our first day in Berlin.
Take in the direction of the Tiergarten's largest city park. The park was an ancient hunting ground of the principles and was turned into a park in the first half of the thirties. A myriad of narrow streets and paths through it and make it a favorite of Berliners.
Our stroll through the Tiergarten park is not random but has a definite direction. We stopped first near Grosser Stern, a huge roundabout intersection on the center and the imposing Siegessäule or triumphal column. To achieve this column was erected to commemorate the Prussian victory over Denmark in 1864, there is no need to risk their lives crossing the street but there's a subway handy. The best view is from one corner of the street where you can also see the golden statue representing the Goddess of Victory, resting on its top after other Prussian victories.
Continuing our tour we pass the Schloss Bellevue (Belvedere Palace), an austere white building which is the official residence of the German president. Skirt for a while 'to get in front of the Spree at Haus der Kulturen der Welt (House of Culture). An architectural horror that someone, because of its shape, has nicely called 'pregnant oyster'.
To enter the Reichstag, the building that houses the German Parliament (Deutscher Bundestag) we have a nice tail that begins at the staircase. Access to the dome of the building is free and allows you to enjoy a beautiful view over the city. In this building met the Reichstag from 1894 to 1933 that the parliament of the imperial period and the Weimar Republic. The palace has kept its name even after the war and the end of the Reich.
And finally here is the symbol of Berlin, the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor), a work neoclassical built between 1788 and 1795. And 'interesting to read that in 1806 during the French occupation, the French order of Napoleon thought well to remove the massive work and bring them to Paris, as if there were no buildings in Paris too! In 1814, however, had to return it and the Brandenburg Gate returned to his post and became the symbol of victory. Throughout history, was the scene of many important events successes in this city. Until 1989, the collapse of the wall, because the door marked the boundary between the two Berlins.
The information we buy our office near Berlin WelcomeCard valid for 3 days (25 € band ABC). Besides being able to enjoy three days of all public transport in Berlin and Potsdam will allow us to enjoy discounts on entrance tickets to various monuments and even in some shops.
Continue along Unter der Linden. It is considered one of the most famous streets of the city.
We enter the courtyard of the State Library. Inside the national library has preserved nothing less than the original score of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with other priceless treasures as well as more than 10 million books.
In front of the Staatsbibliothek find Alters the Palais (Old Palace). We visit the war memorial, the Neue Wache, built between 1816 and 1818. Originally the building housed the royal prison in 1930 and 1931 but then was turned into a monument in commemoration of soldiers killed in WWI. Later it was restored in 1960 and then became a memorial to the victims of fascism and tyranny. In 1993 the memorial was changed once again and headed to the victims of war and dictatorship.
With a little detour to go visit the Catholic Basilica of St. Theodore (St. Hedwigs Kathedrale), in whose crypt containing the remains of many bishops of the city which is located near the city's oldest opera house (Staatsoper Unter den Linden) and perhaps in Germany.
We reach the Jewish quarter. First refuge of Jews fleeing from Russia and East became the focus of the Jewish community, was a lively and vital. With the Second World War was over. It was subsequently recovered and restored and is now a lively crowded with tourists and Berliners where you can choose from many local. Let the Neue Synagoge (New Synagogue) with brilliant special golden dome glinting in the rays of winter sun. Its construction was completed in 1866, partially destroyed during what was called the Night of Broken Glass (1938) and then severely damaged by Allied bombing (1943). Given the extensive damage in 1958 was demolished before being rebuilt and completed in 1995. Very beautiful is the Postfuhramt, we are surprised to read that it was not just a residence but the former stables of the horses of the postal service. The Gedenkstätte Grosse Hamburger Strasse (Memorial Grosse Hamburger Strasse) is in a tract that before World War II, was one of the main streets of the Jewish quarter. In this quarter there were schools, homes, shops, a cemetery and also a home for elderly people that the Nazis turned into a prison which held that Jews were being deported to concentration camps of Auschwitz and Theresienstadt. Today, instead of this building there is a memorial, a monument more striking and suggestive that depicts a group of Jews who go to death alongside a commemorative plaque. Then visit the Sophia can be reached by a narrow passage. It is a baroque church which was built at the behest of Queen Sophie Luise in 1712.
Left the Jewish quarter and we go to visit the Berlin Dom and climb the dome to enjoy the sunset from the top.
The Berlin Dom (Berlin WelcomeCard with the ticket costs 3 €) is something special. We have no way to pass around here sometimes and enjoy this impressive cathedral that together with the nearby bridge Schlossbrücke offer picture-book. The Schlossbrücke is, quite rightly, one of the most beautiful bridges in the city and connects to Schlossplatz Unter der Linden. It was built in 1824 and the statues that populate scenes inspired by ancient Greek mythology.
The interior of the cathedral is very beautiful and certainly worth the visit. They also kept the coffins of Frederick I and his wife Sophie Charlotte.
We climb the 270 steps (we counted them) that lead us to the gallery overview from which you can admire the interior of the church and arrive on the dome where we can enjoy a beautiful view of the city. The sun is setting and strange games of light formed through the clouds that veil the sky with lovely pictures of this city.
The Museum Island, is in fact the Alte Nationalgalerie is located on a platform reached by a double staircase, the Neues Museum (ancient Egyptian), the Altes Museum (Greek and Roman antiquities), the Bode Museum near the railway bridge , as well integrated in the context of modernity and then the Pergamon Museum where we direct ourselves. I Pergamon Museum was built between 1912 and 1930 and owes its name to the famous Pergamon Altar, which houses within it. And 'one of the most amazing pieces of this museum. Impressive are the Aleppo Zimmer, a room that belonged to a merchant house of the Syrian city of Aleppo, and the Ishtar Gate of Babylon, perhaps one of the pieces that I liked more.

Without breakfast we leave our hotel and we go by bus to Hauptbahnhof station, which was inaugurated in 2006 and is a fine example of modern architecture. Here we take a train to the station (so to speak) Potsdam.
Potsdam, Brandenburg's capital, lies on the border with Germany, other European cities like Berlin and was severely damaged by bombing in World War II and has now been completely rebuilt to return to its original splendor, fortunately many of the buildings which you can admire escaped the bombing.
In the seventeenth century, Frederick William of Brandenburg in Potsdam, established its second residence and residence! With the birth of the kingdom of Prussia and Potsdam became the seat of the court. It was then that Frederick the Great Frederick II to the mid-eighteenth to build most of the buildings that today we can admire.
We came here to visit the Sanssouci Park, a huge park where inside there are several very interesting buildings and royal palaces. The town deserves a thorough examination and careful but we are just passing through and wanted to renounce the visit of the buildings in this park.
The bus we take to bring us to the park through some interesting points of the city Potsdam thus enabling us to see if the bus window.
We go down near the Schloss Sanssouci. Schloss Sanssouci is a splendid rococo palace built in 1745. Among other Sanssouci is of French origin and means precisely 'no worries'.
Next we meet the Neue Kammern, built in 1747 that was once the palace of Sanssouci Orangerie and was later converted and used as guest house (però..) By Frederick the Great. The gardens are not just in their full glory, but fail to give us an idea of how they are and how they should be. More is also found the Friedenskirche, or church of peace. Its construction began in 1845 through the work of Frederick William IV, who laid the foundation stone and was completed in 1848. The church is based on that of St. Clement in Rome. Beside the church is a mausoleum with the tombs of some real (and Kaiser Wilhelm I Frederick III and IV).
The visit of Sanssouci (Schloss Sanssouci) is driven in the sense that trimmed all its audio guide and inviting us to stay in groups and follow the escort that does nothing but open and close doors. We could not turn calmly on our behalf? If so driving is a tape!?!? The construction of the castle was completed in 1747 and is said no other castle so well as this reflects the personality of Frederick the Great.
The interior of the building are very nice. The entry of Carrara marble leaves us open-mouthed, imagine the bustle of ladies in splendid garments, men perhaps in full uniform is perhaps strange but fun.
This building alone is worth the trip from Berlin to here. We read, and that's why we moved early this morning, which UNESCO has established a limit of 2000 visitors per day and that even in low season these tickets run out in the morning.
In front of Schloss Sanssouci, perhaps I should say, across the street there is a mill town (Historic Muhle), to give a charm, so to speak, to the rural site. It was built between 1787 and 1791 in the Dutch style. It was destroyed by fire in 1945 and rebuilt in 1993 with a new mechanism.
The next visit is the Neues Palais Vonj Sanssouci. This imposing baroque palace was built by Frederick the Great and construction (1763-1769) began only after the Thirty Years War although the project dated back many years before. Here too we must submit to the rules of a tour because we do not speak German but we are given the usual audio guide. We will however stay with the group and move from good to drive around like everyone else. I do not know if it is for the time out there or is usual but we all have a nice pair of slippers to put on our shoes. Curious! The rooms of this palace to the occasion. Curious and let's say ridiculous hall of shells (Grottensaal). Opposite this building there is another impressive building, the Communs, where there were kitchens, an underground system allowed to get hot food in the castle.
The park preserves other buildings, like the Schloss Charlottenhof, the home of Chinese tea and spa.
Returning to Berlin in the afternoon. Get off at Charlottenburg and we walk towards the palace of Charlottenburg. This quarter, before reunification, was the center button of West Berlin and is still a lively town center. We walk along a pedestrian street, bustling with people and shops. We arrive at Schloss Cahrlottemburg time to visit this beautiful baroque palace. Fortunately we can turn to the palace, of course without leaving the projected path, at will. We come equipped with audio guide (included in price) and we begin our visit. While the audio guide is interesting to listen to the other is a verbose as to be frightening. The palace was the summer residence for Sophie Charlotte, wife of Frederick III. Work on its construction began in 1697. In the course of history was expanded several times. Behind him is a beautiful park that will visit tomorrow, now the darkness has fallen over the city.
Later we also give a tour of the department store KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westerns) in Witten, where consumerism is king. It is the largest stock in Europe and is one of the most exclusive of Berlin, the symbol of the success of West Berlin. In many ways reminds me Harrods in London. KaDeWe was built in 1907 but over time has been amended several times.

Begin visits today from Alexanderplatz. We were several times during our evening tours by bus but it is time of day visit. The square is named after Tsar Alexander I who visited Berlin back in 1805, was originally called Ochsenmarrkt, ie dark market. It is easy to deduce what was its original purpose. During the years of the GDR was the heart of East Berlin A new redevelopment project that wants to turn the aircraft, some in a small Manhattan, is awaiting execution but apparently lacking the funds, never mind .. is also particularly well.
Not far away is Fernsehturn, the television tower, let's say an eyesore in the middle of town. And 'high and 365 meters in addition to being the tallest building in the city and also one of the highest in Europe.
Certainly more attractive and in harmony with the rest of the square is the Mariekirche, the church of Santa Maria. Although its construction began in 1280 the church was consecrated only in the second half of the thirteenth century, together with Nikolaikirche is one of the oldest churches in the city. The interior is very suggestive, the pulpit is of alabaster carved a special beauty.
Then we move into the area Nikolaiviertel (suburb of San Nicolas), is a small zone along the Spree, where it seems almost a walk in another town, another place. Small streets, picturesque houses and a few tourists. In this area there are some of the oldest houses in town. Nikolaikirche is the oldest church in the city by the name of this district. The church is not free of wars past and over time some parts were destroyed and then rebuilt. Today the church hosts an exhibition of objects stored in the destructive fury of war.
We move on foot to reach the famous Checkpoint Charlie. Today has been a reconstruction of the cabin that marked the border crossing with a set dressed in uniform. The area around has been rebuilt so the place has lost the charm that could be sad. This point between 1961 and 1990 was the only place that allowed foreigners to pass between East Berlin and West Berlin. Was for many a symbol of freedom and all those who tried to cross the border to escape the Communist tyranny was the point where the dream started or was stopped abruptly and dramatically. There were thousands and thousands of people in those years they tried to pass the Wall (Berliner Mauer), across the border in search of freedom using the devices more curious and daring. The adjoining museum is an exhibition of evidence, events, stories and people that characterized the history of the wall, and this border point. Were many who died trying to gain freedom. It seems so absurd, so far, but the wall was destroyed only in 1989, only twenty years ago, before all this was real, concrete. Prior to this wall that has conditioned and determined life and death of many people and was the scene of the Cold War, told and described by the press and literature in many ways.
After this visit in the horrors of a time we decide that we do not have enough to go and visit the outdoor museum Topographie des Terrors. Near the museum is still a piece, a long eighty feet, the wall of what was proper where there is now a museum during the Third Reich was the place where once stood one of the most feared building in Berlin, where he houses the headquarters of the Nazis. States that it was in this building that were taken more inhuman decisions that characterized the Nazis, such as genocide of the Jews. After the war the buildings were destroyed and in the cellars, which were used as places of torture, was staged this exhibition on Nazi crimes that Roberta and I have got to see. I do not know what to call it, there are pictures, pictures of people, images of death, faces of people in the prime of life, women, men, lives ... alongside a brief text describes their history, their tragedy. We spend much time reading, watching, wondering what the man can be cruel, brutal, wondering how it happened, how a man can achieve so much against another man, how to be successful and how it can still happen because the world is still not free from these ravages of violence, these examples of cruelty and brutality. We leave this place almost without speaking, we do not know what to say, to express such thoughts.

She gets really cold morning, although we realize it because we fail to move us through the cold. Thus we come in modern Berlin Potsdamer Plaza, the heart of the modern city of modern buildings and destruction and as always questionable taste. Although we know during the Berlin Film Festival these days we never noticed much of the presence of this event, so we Potsdamer Plaza instead of catapulted us into this world famous event.
This area was in the twenties, a vital center that obviously followed the fate of so many other places in this city was destroyed during World War II. Because this area was near the wall for years remained there, empty, without destination. Tourists visiting the area only to be able to see, rising on high platforms were still there, what was beyond the wall. With the reunification of the neighborhood was transformed into what we see today. Were built skyscrapers now home to large international companies. Among the architects who contributed to the redevelopment of the area also include the Italian architect Renzo Piano. Work began in 1992. The district name is derived from one of the gates of Berlin, Potsdamer Tor precisely.
We take a stroll in the mall Arkaden, the Sony Center and finally decide to get on or Aussichtsplattform Panoramapunkt at 1 Potsdamer Plaza. With our Berlin Welcome Card, we are entitled to a discount. The elevator, according to the type that accompanies us, is the fastest in Europe. The view from above is interesting, we will see all this tangle of modernity.

Take a bus to move, and thus crosses the diplomatic quarter, a succession of home and embassies.
Yesterday we left behind the park of Schloss and the new building. We head straight into the park. Wander up to the Belvedere housing a collection of porcelain, and later the uproar of the visit yesterday we go much earlier than the closing time, at the Neuer Flugerl (after we get a discount through the Berlin Welcome Card). To visit us with the usual audio guide that has sorely tested my patience .. beginning was interesting the amount of detail and information provided at the end but a beginning to be a little tired and would like to conclude the visit. But apart from that the visit was interesting and the building is worth a visit.
We leave that is already dark, we have to direct us back to the area around the Berlin Zoo for a stroll 'through the streets to observe the windows until it's time for dinner.
And so ends our last day in town. Arrived at the hotel begin this sad ritual that unites all passenger baggage ...

Our plane leaves at lunchtime, so I take the opportunity for a last visit to the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis-Kirke. This is one of the most famous symbols of the city that a committee is strongly defending the tower from its destruction. The church is rather damaged but perhaps this is also suggestive. The church was built in memory of Emperor William. The bell is still what remains of the original church which was built between 1891 and 1943. Although the tower has been restructuring over eighty years now need re-consolidation of operations and maintenance. Interventions that unfortunately cost for this committee, I do not know how else to describe it, raises funds to keep alive this monument. So we give our small contribution to the cause.
And this ends our tour of the city. Quickly resume the bus and return to hotel to collect our luggage and take the airport road. Our vacation is just about to end.
Berlin say that ... ... is a town that deserves at least a visit! Do not go there would be a shame!


Bibliography
Berlin - EDT - 5th edition 2006
Berlin - City Book Corriere della Sera - Arnoldo Mondadori Editore - 2005