We stay in Saxony to spend the last days of our vacation in Germany so we move on a train to Dresden.
Despite its troubled history of fires, bombings and destruction, Dresden has the usual sleek and tidy look typical of German cities. The sunlight shines through the restored streets of the center and of course, once we delivered our luggage , we immediately start strolling around.
Without a particular destination we walk through colorful streets, stroll among the already-set tables of restaurants and find ourselves in a big square that houses the majesticFrauenkirche with its Italian-inspired architecture.
A few steps from here, theBruhl’s Terrace – surrounded by museums – watches the river Elbe flow by and placidly observes the other side of the city. One can see the sharp spiers of the churches and the pointed top of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. If its external surface – blackened by time – gives it a mysterious aspect, its bright baroque interior makes it shine as if illuminated by a spiritual aura.
Turning your back to the church you can see the marvelousFürstenzug mural which – made up of 23,000 porcelain tiles and depicting the procession of princes – unravels for a few meters.
Sky begins to paint itself with the warm tones of the sunset, as we enter the sumptuous gardens of theZwinger museum. Between fountains, domes and stairways we observe this elegant palace in all its regal beauty at sunset. In the evening we have dinner at theBurgerei ‘s tables to enjoy an excellent hamburger.
The next morning the sky is dark and the rain will keep us company for most of the day, so there is nothing left to do but take refuge in the museums. We visit the surprising rooms of the Albertinum which, in a mix of minimal and classic spaces, host modern and contemporary art.
The rain does not seem willing to stop, but we – in spite of the bad weather – reach the other side of the river to have lunch atVegan House, take some photos at theKunstofpassage – a picturesque courtyard full of art installations and one-of-a-kind shops – and to stroll through the hipster streets of the city, where residential buildings, gardens and cafes alternate. Graffiti are scattered over many buildings in the area, so we keep walking with our noses up.
We also find time to give a taste to the exquisite cakes of Bioist Genuss, a café that serves delicious homemade pastries and cakes.
We reach the Japanische Palace to visit a very suggestive exhibition dedicated to the role of women in modern society. And when the sun rises in the clouds, we continue along the Elbe to observe the city from Canaletto’s view – the exact point where Dresden inspired the artist’s pictorial work.
We spend the last few hours observing the skyline of the city, illuminated by the light of the street lamps, eating in a touristy – but inevitable –Vapiano restaurant.
The next morning we will leave by train for a hit-and-run in Meissen, before returning to Italy.
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DRESDEN TIPS
MOVING AROUND: To travel from Leipzig to Dresden it takes about 1 hour by train and € 16 with the national company BAHN.
SLEEP: Spending 3 days here, we booked a central hotel, more comfortable to move around with relaxed times.Star G hotel
EAT: In the city there are very good backereis and numerous restaurants to suit all budgets. The cost of a basic dinner is generally around € 20-25 per person.
SEE: Small but stimulating, Dresden offers interesting insights both on an architectural, historical and cultural level, as well as on the level of leisure.