A weekend in Berlin
A journey through history and the future
Angela: It's been a while since our last trip…
Piero: that's true. How about exploring another European capital?
Angela: that sounds fantastic! Which one are you thinking of?
Piero: I'm thinking of the city that perhaps more than any other shaped the last century—for better and for worse.
Angela: I think I know… You mean Berlin!
Piero: exactly! Pack your bags—it's time to visit Berlin.
Berlin: the city that shaped the 20th century
Angela: Before we dive into today's Berlin, we need to understand its past. This city has seen it all: empires, revolutions, destruction, and rebirth.
Piero: its history reads like an epic novel. Berlin was founded in the 13th century as a small trading settlement on the Spree River. It grew rapidly, becoming the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia in 1701—a hub of military and cultural power where philosophers like Hegel and scientists like Humboldt lived.
Angela: in 1871, with German unification, Berlin became the capital of the German Empire. A new era began, marked by grand palaces, modern infrastructure, railways, and museums.
Piero: then came the turbulent 20th century. After Germany’s defeat in World War I, Berlin became the heart of the fragile Weimar Republic. In 1933, Hitler rose to power, turning Berlin into the epicenter of the Nazi regime.
Angela: bombed into ruins during World War II, Berlin was divided: the Soviets controlled the East, the Allies the West. In 1961, the Berlin Wall physically split the city—155 kilometers of concrete cutting lives in half.
Piero: for 28 years, families and friends were separated. West Berlin was a capitalist island inside communist East Germany. Two cities, two parallel lives.
Angela: then came the turning point: November 9, 1989—the Berlin Wall fell. Streets filled with people embracing across once-impenetrable borders. Berlin reunited and became the capital of a united Germany.
Piero: today, Berlin is a dynamic metropolis—modern, reflective, open to the future yet deeply aware of its past.
From Berlin’s heart to its memory
Angela: where better to start than Alexanderplatz? Here we are under the iconic Fernsehturm, the TV Tower. At 368 meters, it's the tallest structure in Berlin.
Piero: built in the 1960s by East Germany to showcase socialist progress, today the TV Tower is Berlin’s lighthouse, uniting the city.
Angela: It’s not just an antenna—it’s a landmark, a tourist attraction, and the tallest publicly accessible building in Europe.
Piero: from one symbol to another: let’s walk toward the Brandenburg Gate.
Angela: walking towards the Brandenburg Gate feels like stepping into a time machine.
Piero: during the Cold War, it stood in no-man’s-land, between East and West. Today, it’s a symbol of European unity.
Angela: built between 1788 and 1791 during the reign of Frederick William II of Prussia, it was inspired by the Propylaea in Athens—a tribute to peace and Enlightenment ideals.
Piero: but peace was short-lived: in 1806, Napoleon marched through it and stole the Quadriga statue. It was returned after his defeat.
Angela: later, it became a symbol of Prussian and German power, and during the Third Reich, a backdrop for Nazi parades.
Piero: after WWII, the Gate stood in ruins—its greatest wound was during the Cold War when it was trapped between two walls, inaccessible.
Angela: yet it remained a symbol of hope. Here, in 1987, Reagan famously declared: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”. Two years later, the Gate opened once again, becoming a bridge rather than a barrier.
Piero: today, the Brandenburg Gate is one of the most photographed places in Berlin—and one of the most meaningful.
Angela: It reminds us that history can change. Even the thickest walls can crumble.
Piero: let’s move to another powerful symbol: the Reichstag.
Angela: every time I see the Reichstag’s glass dome, I think of how history can leave scars—but also hope.
Piero: built in 1894 to house the German Parliament, it witnessed great highs and devastating lows.
Angela: in 1933, the infamous Reichstag fire severely damaged the building. Hitler used the event to suspend civil liberties and consolidate his dictatorship.
Piero: after WWII, the Reichstag lay in ruins. During the division of Germany, West Germany’s parliament moved to Bonn, leaving Berlin politically sidelined.
Angela: after reunification in 1990, the Bundestag returned to Berlin. Architect Norman Foster brilliantly restored the building, preserving its historic shell but adding a modern, transparent glass dome.
Piero: visitors can walk the dome, literally looking down into Parliament—symbolizing a democracy where the people oversee the government.
Angela: and the view from the top—seeing Berlin spread out below—is unforgettable.
Piero: the Reichstag isn’t just a building. It’s a declaration: history can burn, but freedom will rise even brighter.
Angela: walking through Berlin, you encounter many powerful memorials.
Piero: the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is deeply moving.
Angela: no names, no plaques—just thousands of gray concrete slabs. A haunting monument to the Holocaust.
Piero: It speaks through absence, silence, and shadow.
Berlin and the Cold War
Angela: you can't understand Berlin without understanding its Wall.
Piero: the Berlin Wall, built in 1961, brutally divided the city overnight to stop East Germans fleeing to the West.
Angela: It stretched for 155 kilometers, with guard towers, barbed wire, and the infamous “death strip.” Over 100 people lost their lives trying to cross it.
Piero: despite its oppression, the Wall couldn’t extinguish the human spirit.
Angela: today, most of the Wall is gone, but parts remain. The most famous section is the East Side Gallery.
Piero: after the Wall fell, 118 artists from around the world painted it with murals.
Angela: each painting tells a story—some ironic, some heartbreaking. Like the famous “Fraternal Kiss” between Brezhnev and Honecker or the Trabant car smashing through the Wall.
Piero: the East Side Gallery is no longer a symbol of division—it’s a celebration of freedom, art, and unity.
Angela: speaking of Cold War symbols—let’s visit Checkpoint Charlie.
Piero: this was the most famous crossing point between East and West Berlin, reserved for diplomats and foreigners.
Angela: in 1961, American and Soviet tanks faced off here, inches from disaster. Nuclear war was a real threat.
Piero: today, a replica guardhouse and museum remind us of that tension.
Angela: standing here, you can almost feel the Cold War's eerie silence.
Berlin: a bridge between past and present
Piero: A short walk away, we cross the Spree River to Museum Island—a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Angela: five world-class museums here display treasures from across millennia.
Piero: the Pergamon Museum showcases ancient wonders like the Pergamon Altar and the Ishtar Gate from Babylon.
Angela: the Neues Museum houses the stunning Bust of Nefertiti—an icon of Egyptian art.
Piero: Berlin shifts seamlessly from ancient history to vibrant modern life.
Angela: we hop on the U-Bahn and head to Charlottenburg, West Berlin’s elegant heart.
Piero: here, time slows. Visit Charlottenburg Palace, stroll through the French-style gardens, or shop along Kurfürstendamm Boulevard.
Angela: don't miss the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church—its shattered tower stands as a powerful anti-war symbol.
Piero: and if you seek Berlin’s edgier side, head to Kreuzberg.
Angela: here, Turkish, punk, queer, and bohemian cultures blend vibrantly.
Piero: giant murals, indie bars, vintage markets, and Görlitzer Park’s sunset buzz—this is Berlin’s soul in motion.
Angela: finally, don’t miss the New Synagogue, famous for its golden dome and Moorish design—another resilient survivor of Berlin’s turbulent history.
Auf wiedersehen Berlin
Piero: we slowly return to Alexanderplatz. The city slows down, but never stops. Trams glide by, bikes zoom past, a violinist plays under an archway. Berlin is undefinable. It leads you through history, makes you think, but also surprises you with hidden beauty.
Angela: It's not a postcard-perfect city. It’s alive, layered, honest. It shows you its scars—and its rebirth.
Piero: whether you have two, three, or five days in Berlin, fill them with walks, stories, encounters.
Angela: visit museums but also crowded cafes. Sit on a bench and listen to the hum of life.
Piero: because Berlin isn’t just a place to visit. Berlin is a city to feel, to cross, to live—and once you leave, you’ll realize it stayed with you.
Angela: as Kennedy said in 1963 at Schöneberg Town Hall: "Ich bin ein Berliner."
Piero: He wasn’t just making a political statement. He was saying: "Your freedom is my freedom too".
Angela: that’s Berlin. It involves you. It embraces you. It changes you.
