BERLIN

Berlin, the capital city of Germany, is renowned for its exceptional range of landmarks, vibrant cultural scene and for its striking contrasts. Historical buildings stand alongside modern architecture as the past and present intermingle. Berlin is also the city of art, artists, and museums. In fact, precious artefacts from all over the world are showcased at more than 170 museums.

The most iconic landmark is the Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of the reunification of the city after the fall of the Berlin Wall and witness to many important events in the city’s turbulent history.

The Reichstag is the seat of the German parliament. Constructed in 1884-1889 as a symbol of the strength of the German Reich, it sustained a great deal of damage and was completely reconstructed in 1994-1999. The East Side Gallery is the largest (1.3km long) open-air gallery in the world, located by the River Spree, originally part of the Berlin Wall. In 1990, 118 artists from 21 countries decorated the grey blocks of the wall with vibrant images commenting on the political events of the period 1989-1990.