MUSEUM ISLAND, Altes Museum

The Altes Museum, designed by the architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel, is the oldest museum in the city, and the first to be built on the Museumsinsel, in 1830.

The building is massive, and indeed the Nazis used the long, column-lined facade on numerous occasions as a backdrop for its propaganda.

A broad flight of stairs leads up to a colonnaded portico to the entrance of the Museum. When you cross the threshold, you’ll find yourself in a bright, round space topped by a dome, surrounded by 20 statues that invite you to make your way in.

On the ground floor, you’ll find works of classical art, with a complete overview of ancient Greek art: the museum is home to works which go back to 1000 BCE. You’ll have the chance to admire amphorae, vases, helmets and statues, as well as small cult and everyday objects offering an exhaustive portrait of what life was like in ancient times....