You know, there are many cities that are somehow divided, displaced in more than one country, some even in more than one continent, but the story of none of them is more touching than the story of the main stage of the world theatre in the 20th century - Berlin.
It is strange... The city does not belong among the most beautiful, it even isn't one of the most ancient, not even in Germany, but the history that was being written here is today part of the breathtaking genius loci of the place. Twice plans for a world war were being assembled here, plans for urban reconstruction of never before seen proportion were being created here and for the next 40 years the city became the symbol of the divided world.
Welcome to Berlin.
The Reichstag building
Built in the 19th century as the main seat for the the Imperial Diet, the Reichstag is a symbol of Germany's history as much as Berlin itself.
After the infamous fire in 1933 that directly resulted in the Nazi dictatorship, the place lay in ruins. It wasn't until the 1990s and the reunification of Germany that the building was restored and received a cool new glass globe structure on the top. If you want a cheap view of downtown Berlin, go to the site of the german parliament and book a tour. It is for free.
The Berlin Wall
Nothing describes the divided city and world more than the Berlin Wall. It was here where most of the East Germans tried to flee through the Iron Curtain and where JFK gave his famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech. Today, only a fraction of the wall survives. It has been turned into a street gallery, but the spirit of the place lives on.
Berliner Dom
The largest a nicest cathedral in Berlin provides you a call insight of the imperial architecture of the 19th century. Wanna see what the city looked like during the reign of the Hohenzollern Kaisers? The head out to Museum Island and while visiting various museums, stop and glance at this remarkable piece of architecture.
Alexanderplatz and the TV Tower
Nothing defines the skyline of the German metropolis more than the modern TV and observation tower built almost 370 meters high above the rush square of Alexanderplatz. You can buy a ticket to visit the observation deck or just go for a coffee to a rotating café and restaurant and enjoy the breathtaking views of the city.
The Holocaust memorial
Sadly, when most people think of Germany, it is hard not to mention one of the darkest hours in its history. The Nazi Germany and holocaust are a stain on the country's face, however most Germans leaned to live with it and embrace it as well as they could. There is probably no other country with more holocaust memorials in the whole world, but this one, located 5 minutes walk from the Brandenburg Gate, is one of the most famous. Just please, do not stand on the platforms... It's like taking a duckface selfie at the gates of Auschwitz.
And at last, don't forget to take a selfie with the Brandenburg gate. It's a tourist must :D
See you later :)
Lex
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