La visit to Berlin brings us many interesting surprises. It is a city full of history that can also offer us different multicultural visions and that has a lot to see. One of the things that we should not miss on our trip to Berlin is the Museum Island or Museumsinsel in German.
La Museum Island is an island formed by the river Spree in the heart of Berlin where the most important museums of the city are located. The island is of such cultural importance that it has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
History of the Museum Island
Museum Island has a long history. The northern part of the island was a residential space that King Frederick William IV of Prussia dedicated to art and science. The first museums that achieved international renown were installed in this area. Several of the Prussian kings were the ones who initially promoted this initiative but later, already in the XNUMXth century, it became part of the public foundation Foundation of the Prussian Cultural Heritage, which is currently in charge of maintaining the collections and the museums. The museum collections allow us to show the history of mankind from Antiquity to the XNUMXth century. During World War II some of the museums were destroyed and the collections were separated in the Cold War but reunited later. On this Museum Island you can also find the Berlin Cathedral and the Garden of Pleasure or Lustgarten.
Old Museum or Altes Museum
As its name suggests, it is the oldest museum on Museum Island, inaugurated in 1830. The building is one of the first in the world that was created for the sole purpose of being a museum. It stands out for having a marked neoclassical style, which makes the building a jewel in itself. In this museum we can see a permanent collection of art and sculptures from classical antiquity, from ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. It stands out for having the famous bust of Cleopatra and also the largest collection of Etruscan art.
New Museum or Neues Museum
Shortly after the completion of the Old Museum, the construction of the New Museum on the island. It was badly damaged in World War II, remaining in ruins until its restoration began in 1999, which would last nine years. In this museum the cultural history of the ancestors throughout the world is shown. A neoclassical building to learn about the history of humanity from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. In this museum we can see the Neanderthal skull of Le Moustier or the bust of Nefertiti.
Pergamon Museum
This is the most visited museum in Berlin and has three wings. The museum is still under restoration, something that will last for years, so when we go to visit some wing may be closed. It can be understood as if they were three museums different with that of classic antiques, the Middle East and the Islamic Art. Its star pieces are the Roman Gate of the Miletus Market, the Pergamon Altar, the Ishtar Gate or the Mushatta Facade.
Bode Museum
The Bode Museum is located in the north of the island. It was another of the museums that was badly damaged by the Second World War and took a long time to be rebuilt again. In this museum you can visit the Sculpture Collection, Byzantine Art Collection and Numismatic Cabinet. We find a museum with important works of European art. Among them we can see 'La Madonna Pazzi' by Donatello, the sculpture of the Dancer by Antonio Canova or an ancient Roman sarcophagus. In the numismatic area we can see one of the largest collections of coins in the world with up to 4.000 coins and medals, until the arrival of the euro. A really interesting place for those who have a hobby of numismatics.
The Old National Gallery
In this gallery we can see works from Classicism, Romanticism, Impressionism and contemporary art. You can see paintings by artists such as Renoir, Monet, Manet or Caspar David Friedrich. In the gallery you can also see the bronze equestrian statue of Frederick William IV and the works of the Berlin artist Adolph Menzel. There are also works by other artists such as Max Lieberman or Carl Blechen.
Berlin Cathedral
Within the Museum Island we can also see the Berlin Cathedral. Completed in 1905, it is its most important religious building and stands out for its huge dome in green tones. Next to this building was the Imperial Palace, hence the cathedral was so important. In World War II this building was also seriously damaged, requiring years of reconstruction.