BERLIN

Berlin as capital of the country that “invented” the Christmas markets could only be a symbolic city. In fact, in Berlin there are more than 60 markets, the highest number of any other city in Germany, which, no doubt, can satisfy all, but all the possible needs of tourists and visitors!

Every year before Christmas, Berlin is lit by a blaze of festive lights. . On long boulevards and large squares, but also in the small crosses, in the streets and museums, the Christmas markets will surprise you with splendor, celebration, charm and traditional Christmas goodies. Environment and contemplative environment fairytale or something more “trendy” and with a style typical of the city: Berlin everyone will find what suits you

Christmas Market in Spandau

And ‘the biggest Christmas market in Berlin. It takes place against the backdrop of the old city, in the district of Spandau (Spandau Altstadt) in Berlin, where more than 250 wooden chalets, which also become 400 on weekends, waiting for the visitors with their products.

In the same place there is also a Christmas market for children, unique in its kind in the German capital. Among the initiatives extra, you can find a beautiful Nativity scene with live animals in Reformationsplatz, concerts and choirs. Miss a visit to the Gardens Christmas St. Nikolai, the Saint of Christmas in Central Europe, and the market town of arts and crafts Reformationsplatz, where every Wednesday procession takes place entirely in medieval style.

Christmas market in Gendarmenmarkt

This is a traditional Christmas market, one of the most beautiful of Berlin, with Christmas craft objects, especially sculptures in wood and stone, and specialties of the best chefs. The market is always animated by jugglers, acrobats and fire eaters, but also a lot of good jazz and gospel choirs.

Am Gendarmenmarkt, 2 – Berlin Mitte

from 25.11.2013 to 31.12.2013

from Sunday to Thursday from 11.00 to 22.00

Friday and Saturday from 11.00 to 22.00

24.12.2013 from 11.00 to 18.00

31.12.2013 from 11.00 am to 1.00 am

adult entry fee 1 euro, children under 12 years free
Christmas Market Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

In the district Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf there is another of the most popular markets in Berlin, featuring over 170 stalls arranged round a majestic Christmas tree lit up, right in front of the church.

Christmas Market at Charlottenburg Palace

One of the most important Christmas markets in Berlin is located in front of the baroque Charlottenburg Palace. It is a very large market, with about 250 booths, and very romantic, thanks to the suggestive setting of the illuminated castle. Coming from the stands heady scent of Berlin specialties and German and are offered crafts of the oldest arts and crafts in the city. In addition to the accompanying music, walks through the stands may be supplemented by special tours in the beautiful palace.

The Great Christmas Market in Berlin

The Groß Berlin Weihnachtsmarkt takes place in East Berlin, the eastern part of the city. The many wooden chalets wind through Alexanderstraße, Jannowitzbrücke Alexanderplatz, near the shopping-center Alexa, where he also set up a spectacular 50-meter high ferris wheel! Ideal for children and adults who want to enjoy a breathtaking view of Berlin.

Christmas Market Environment

In the vicinity of the Great Christmas Market in Berlin he plays another, in the most ancient part of the city, Sophienstraße. This Market is dedicated to environmentally friendly products and environmental protection organizations. Here even Santa Claus is environmentally friendly, it is dressed in green!

Christmas Market at Potsdamer Platz

In the Alte Potsdamer Straße and the square held a Christmas Market dedicated to the enjoyment of children and adults. At his side are in fact a large ice rink and a toboggan high 12 meters and length of 70!

Christmas Market in Saint Lucia

This market is dedicated to Saint Lucia and the Scandinavian Christmas. The northern European Christmas tradition is in fact more related to figures such as Santa Claus and Saint Lucia, rather than the more “Mediterranean” Baby Jesus. Since these customs are deeply felt in Germany, the Berlin recalls with a market ad hoc, which takes place at the Cultural Center of Kulturbrauerei, housed in the former Schultheiss brewery. This Christmas Market all refer to the culture and tradition of the Nordic countries, from decorations to crafts and food on offer. To the delight of families and children, there are also cultural programs daily, with initiatives taking place near the market.

Christmas Market Chanukka

The Jewish Museum in Berlin has a traditional market on the occasion of Chanukkah, the Festival of Lights, one of the most heartfelt and evocative Jewish celebrations. You can typically find specialties from all over the world, but especially Jewish specialties, including the typical dessert of the holiday, the sufganiot, and mulled wine kosher. For children are organized puppet shows and concerts for adults.

The list of Christmas markets in Berlin is really long and it would be impossible to list them all! Remember, however, other important markets: the Christmas Market Ecological Kollwitzplatz, which offers such as Sophienstrasse ecological and ecologically sustainable, Nostalgic Christmas Market at the Opera House, really impressive in the frame of the Staatsoper, the Christmas Market in Bebelplatz, in the Richardplatz in the Neukölln district, the Christmas Market Winterfeldtplatz in the Schöneberg district, the Christmas Market Königin-Luise-Strasse in Zehlendorf district, and last but not least, the Christmas market on Town Hall Square (Rotes Rathaus ).

Not only Markets

As with any major city, the Christmas markets as numerous concerts, cultural events, lights and Christmas trees, carriage rides through the streets of the city decorated for the festival, as well as themed restaurants and nightlife.

Most of the Christmas markets in Berlin beginning in late November and stay open every day until the end of the Christmas holidays. The 2013 edition notes the following dates and times:

From 25 November to 31 December 2013
From Monday to Thursday and Sunday, from 11 to 22, Friday and Saturday from 11 to 23.
24.12.2013 31.12.2013 from 11 to 18 and from 11 am to 1 am

Describe Berlin in a few lines is very difficult, almost impossible, due to its centuries-old history and the extraordinary wealth of museums and monuments that characterize it.

You could start, however, by what is considered the world its symbol: the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor). It was built between 1778 and 1791, topped by a quadriga depicting the Goddess of Victory. E ‘therefore a symbol of strength and power, aiming to enhance the typical characters of the city and the nation.

Not far from the Brandenburg Gate is the Reichstag, which is the seat of the German Parliament. It was inaugurated in 1894, but then burned by the Nazis in 1933. On that occasion, was destroyed even the famous dome of glass and steel, which had been a source of pride for the city and for the German architecture of the time. Between 1961 and 1964 the building was rebuilt and in 1992 the British architect Sir Norman Foster created a new and even more spectacular glass dome, which is still one of the main attractions for tourists. In 1999 the palace has taken a renewed and the official role of the Parliament of reunited Germany, under the name of the Bundestag.

From the Brandenburg Gate begins one of the main streets of Berlin, Unter den Linden. On this great road are some of the major historical buildings: the Humboldt-Universität, the oldest and most famous of the three universities of Berlin, founded in 1810, the building of the Deutsche Staatsoper (ie, the State Opera), built between 1741 and 1743 and is situated opposite the university, the Neue Wache, war memorial built by Karl Friedrich Schinkel between 1816 and 1818 and one of the most important neo-classical buildings in Berlin.

At the heart of the Old Town are Potsdamer Platz. The war and the division of Berlin had erased all traces of the ancient architecture of this square, but rebuilt after the reunification with the valuable contribution of many famous architects from all over the world (including the Italian architect Renzo Piano). This is a truly symbolic, as set during the Cold War at the border between West Berlin and East. Even today, here is a sign of the former division, Checkpoint Charlie, one of the few steps between the east and west of the city at the time of the wall. In the middle of the road there is a large sign on which are portrayed a young Russian soldier on one side and a young American soldier on the other, to symbolize here as they stazionassero face to face during the war years.

Among the symbols of conflict and division traumatic local and national, must not be forgotten then the wall fragments that are still to Berlin and witness with intense and touching eloquence the sufferings of quegi years.

Another important Berlin is Alexanderplatz square, perfect balance between tradition and modernity. On the one hand, in fact, are the TV tower and the Weltzeituhr, a clock that shows the time in all parts of the world, on the other stands the City Hall.

The Town Hall was built between 1861 and 1869 in neoclassical style in red brick, which is why it is called by Berlin Rotes Rathaus (Red Town Hall). This architectural choice would mark a bond with the Renaissance tradition, especially certain Italian cities of Ferrara and Bologna, where in fact the use of terracotta abounds in historic buildings.

Gendarmenmarkt is one of the most beautiful town squares. To the left is the Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral on) and on the right Französischer Dom (the cathedral French), very similar in structure. In particular, the Französischer Dom was built between 1701 and 1705 for the Huguenots, religious community escaped the massacres anti-Protestant that occurred in France in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The Huguenots were welcomed by the king of Prussia in German territory, contributing significantly to the cultural growth of Berlin. At the center of the two religious buildings in Mitte is the former national theater, now used as a concert hall.

Among the religious buildings main course, there is the Berlin Cathedral, Protestant church built from 1747 to 1750, initially started as a church and mausoleum of the family of Hohenzollern. Today’s building is from 1905, although after the destruction of the war it was again rebuilt and, in part, simplified.

Staying in the city center, especially in the Mitte district, meet other sights not to be missed. For those who love the museum, is a must to stop the Museum Island, which contains the most important museums of the city. Those who wish to enjoy the most romantic part of Berlin can not lose the Charlottenburg Palace and the beautiful park that surrounds it, the Tiergarten. This is the largest green space in the city, including the favorite places of Berliners for walks at the weekend.

Cuisine of Berlin

The German cuisine is very caloric, made of hearty and substantial since breakfast.

The meat is the highlight, from hot dogs, can also be purchased at kiosks along the streets, which are often made of pork, such as Eisbein. The latter is usually cooked in brine or is boiled and served with sauerkraut and sausages or mushy peas and meatballs.

Among the specialties of Berlin are the Boulette, a kind of dumpling fried with a side of potato salad, which is often accompanied by the Berliner Weisse, a typical type of beer.

Then there are the potato pancakes with apple compote (Kartoffelpuffer), the Berliner Kalbsleber (degato veal topped with mashed potatoes, apples and onions) and, among the fish, the Aal Grun, or the boiled eel sauce dill.

The desserts, as in Germany, are high in calories and sugar and marzipan sweets ranging from the glazed donuts and cakes.

For the drink, of course, the queen is the beer, typical of Germany. In all the territory they are produced up to 500 different qualities. The specialty Berlin, however, is the Berlinerweiße, a beer rather acidic, for this served in a glass ample, with straw, and is sweetened with extracts of raspberry, lemon or with the Waldmeister based woodruff.

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