Altes Museum

Let’s start at the very beginning with the first museum built on the island: the Altes Museum.
If you’re not familiar with German, “Altes” means “Old”, so this is quite literally the Old Museum. But let’s show it the respect it deserves. This neoclassical masterpiece was built between 1823 and 1830, designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, now regarded as the greatest Prussian architect of his time.
Schinkel was clearly inspired by classical antiquity and the Pantheon in Rome, with a monumental colonnade of 18 fluted Ionic columns, a vast entrance hall, and a rotunda inside. Surprisingly, the dome is not visible from the outside, as the architect did not wish to compete against the dome of Berlin Cathedral nearby.
Inside, we can admire the artwork of the Greeks, Romans and Etruscans thanks to the great collection of antiquities that Berlin possesses.
Among the most beloved pieces are the busts of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, the Berlin Goddess statue, and the Hildesheim Treasure.
Such great masterpieces, so art and history lovers, do not miss it !