Once reached the central station, we board our train bound for Leipzig. We sit comfortably and watch the Berlin skyline become smaller and smaller.
About an hour by train later, we arrive at the destination. Our hotel is located in the small beating heart of this town and we are ready to explore it.
The atmosphere of the streets is a perfect mix of ancient and modern, the red brick buildings follow historic and elegant ones, alternating with strictly contemporary architecture and, although it is not a metropolis, the air you breathe is fresh.
Streets. Palaces. Restaurants. Museums. The first stop is at the MDBK – a huge cube of wood, glass and concrete that houses modern and contemporary art. We walk through the large rooms, go up and down the stairs and observe the installations from the internal terrace – and once the mind is fed, it’s time to feed the body. We order two giant wraps atBurrito Company.
The church ofSaint Nicholas – with its more than 850 years, the contaminations of the various centuries and its floral ceiling in shades of pink and green – enriches the city center together with the Old Town Hall, the university and the adjoining observation tower from which to observe an expanse of roofs and gardens.
On Saturday morning, while the sun reflects in the windows, a colorful market occupies the town square. Flowers. Cheeses. Freshly baked bread. Can you smell them, too? Between ancient towers, botanical gardens and parks that invite you to relax, squares open up, winding alleys and gather all the liveliness of the inhabitants.
The history of German cuisine, however, is hidden in the dark, in the cellar of theAuberbachs Keller – a historic restaurant from the 1500s located in the Madlerpassage shopping arcade, also mentioned by Goethe in Faust.
Strolling in the great green lungCarla Zetkin-Park we find a pond and some restaurants, we cross Johannapark to reach the Orthodox church of Russische Gedachitniskirche – impressive but tiny inside. Later we have lunch atBagel Brothers and then, with a book in hand, we enjoy the sounds of the city comfortably lying on the grass.
When the sunset begins to cast a soft light on the buildings, we visit the west part of the city, where the small residential neighborhoods overlook streets full of restaurants and the evocative Holocaust Memorial composed of 140 empty chairs as a symbol of the lives lost during the Nazi persecution.
In the evening we sit at the table ofAuberbachs Keller to taste delicacies of Germanic cuisine. As touristy as it is, it strikes us with its old-fashioned charm and tasty food.
We dedicate the last morning in the city toSpinnerei. An old red brick yarn factory with big windows and an industrial look, which over time has become a creative hub of galleries and design studios. We stock up on art because in the open spaces we find the works of international artists: installations, paintings and much more. We unexpectedly found the perfect way to say goodbye to Leipzig.
Another train another course, this time headed to Dresden.
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LEIPZIG TIPS
MOVE AROUND: Traveling from Berlin to Leipzig takes about 1 hour by train and € 20 with BAHN national railway company .
SLEEP: The city is small, so we preferred to choose a central accommodation at Capri by Fraser. A little more expensive than usual, but absolutely cute.
EAT: There is no shortage of restaurants in town and not even the excellent Backerei. The price for a frugal meal is around € 10 per person, up to € 25/30 if you opt for real restaurants.
- Bagel Brothers: If you want salads, American desserts and the inevitable Bagels filled with goodness.
- Buttiro Company: Gigantic and very tasty Hispanic style wraps.
- Umaii: For an Asian meal in Germanic land.
- Auberbachs Keller: If you want to feel like the protagonist of a classic of literature.
- Vapiano: When you are missing Italy.
SEE: Despite being a small town, there is no shortage of places to feed the mind, from historical ones to those dedicated to art.
MDBK: museum of modern and contemporary art.
SPINNEREI: Between local history and artistic hub in an industrial atmosphere that will enchant you.
GALERIE EIGEN + ART: Contemporary Art.
THE PANOMETER: For a unique 360 ° panorama.
GRASSI MUSEUM: Modern Art.
RUSSISCHE GEDAECHITNISKIRCHE: Orthodox church that towers over Johannapark park.
MEMORIALE DELL’OLOCAUSTO: A suggestive commemorative installation.