Places to go and things to see in Germany

- The Brandenburg Gate

The Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor) is the most famous symbol in Berlin. It is located right in the middle of the Pariser Platz and since it was restored in 2002 it is more illuminated than ever. A symbol of excellence of Berlin, and a neoclassic structure inspired on the Parthenon of Athens, you just can’t leave Berlin without visiting this monument. The Brandenburg Gate was the symbol of the divided Germany (it separated the oriental and occidental parts). The gate has witnessed many interesting events, as for example, during the French invasion by Napoleon, he ordered that the gate should be dismantled and then transported to Paris. It was there until 1814, when it was brought back to Berlin and was declared as a symbol of victory. It was precisely on this moment that the goddess that is on the top of the gate received a crosier with the Prussian eagle and an iron cross with a laurel wreath. The gate was the scenery for important events such as the rise of the Third Reich of Hitler, and the Russian occupation of 1945. On the sides of the Gate one can still find a pair of flags used by the guards. The Brandenburg Gate is a place that is always crowded and noisy, so the best way to visit it might be by bike, avoiding the traffic and also allowing you to ride through all the Unter den Linden or take a beautiful tour through the park of Postdam.

- The Reichstag

The Reichstag is the building which houses the German Parliament, and it is one of the most symbolic buildings of Berlin. It was built between 1884 and 1894 to show the world the German power. It was renovated between 1994 and 1999 by renowned British architect Sir Norman Foster and the building won with this renewal the dome where you can get the best view of Berlin.

- The Berlin Wall

Not all of the Berlin Wall went down in 1989, and the remains can be observed in certain part of town. The remaining pieces of the wall have thousands of graffiti alluding to the years of separation from the city. It is impressive and gives an idea of the repression that was happening at the time. You can not leave town without seeing this wall that still stretches through a few kilometers.

- Potsdamer Platz

After years of glow in the early twentieth century, it was reconstructed after the war and now again is the center of the metropolis city that is Berlin. The Potsdamer Platz is a city within a city. Noteworthy on the Potsdamer Platz is the Sony Center, the German parent company of Daimler Chrysler, the Café Josty, the Cinemaxx and the Arkaden. Curiously, it was on this place that was installed the first traffic light of Europe.