I’d never thought of Berlin as other than the city razed by the Allies towards the end of WW2, then divided by the infamous Wall for 28 years, and finally a potential major flashpoint during the Cold War, but I was surprised as we moved around the city.
Berlin records its history as going back before the 4th century AD, but its existing structural monuments, such as the well-known Brandenburg Tor (Gate) existed in the early 1800s.
Some historic buildings were destroyed by Allied bombers, necessitating reconstruction, and others badly damaged with repairs obvious.
The Brandenburg Gate (above) was opened to the public in 1791 and is iconic to Berlin and a major attraction for the many tourists who visit this city.
Repairs to damage caused by shrapnel and other projectiles are apparent from the different coloured stone used for patching and replacement of severely damaged sections of the structure.
The first photo,showing the traffic lights is from the West, and the monochrome photo from a 1961 postcard shows The Wall sealing the Gate inside the East.
The Wall completely enclosed the Brandenburg Gate within the East, and the curved footpath on the other side of the road aligns with the location of The Wall.
The Reichstag (below) - home of the Bundestag, the German parliament - is an imposing building with its glass dome.
Extensively damaged in WW2, some may have seen the picture of victorious Red Army soldiers hoisting their flag on the building in 1945, and the glass dome is post 1945.
The second and third photos were taken from a cruise on the Spree River.
Museum Island, bounded by the Spree River and Landwehrkanal, houses several museums and the National Gallery.
Pergamonmuseum
Significant is the Pergamonmuseum with its collection of Greek and Roman classical antiquities and museums of the ancient near east and Islamic art.
Below, the reconstructed Market Gate of Miletus from the early 2nd century AD. The close-up photo is part of the Market Gate to show the intricate stonework; some restoration was necessary after WW2 when bombing damaged the roof allowing rain to reach the stonework.
Below, the Ishtar Gate from 6th century BC Babylon.
Below, the Pergamon Altar circa 170 BC
Also on Museum Island is the National Gallery (below) with an imposing Friedrich Wilhelm one-time King of Prussia on horseback at the front.
Altes Museum (above) houses Roman and Greek art and sculpture.
The Berlin Protestant Cathedral (below), the former royal court church, has a crypt with numerous bronze and marble sarcophagi the final resting place of the Prussian royal family and other notables.
Note the detail in the bronze doors.
