A city famous for its boundary-breaking culture, it’s not hard to find cutting-edge art in Berlin. From grand galleries and historic museums to diverse art collectives and celebrated events, art lovers will be spoilt for choice when visiting the German capital and perfectly placed to enjoy everything from Hotel de Rome. Our Head Concierge, Ann Raber, is an art aficionado herself and will be delighted to recommend attractions to surprise and delight.
Museums and galleries
No visit to Berlin would be complete without a trip to Museumsinsel; Berlin’s museum island located in the heart of the city. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Museumsinsel is home to five blockbuster museums, each with its own outstanding collection. A former Royal summer residence, Charlottenburg Palace is also worth visiting for its beautiful Rococo paintings.
Set in a former train station and considered one of the most compressive collections of contemporary art in the world, Hamburger Bahnhof features art from 1960 to the present day. Other essential stops for contemporary art fans include the KINDL – Centre for Contemporary Art and the KW Institute for Contemporary Art, while modern works by the likes of Paul Klee and Pablo Picasso can be seen at the superb Berggruen Museum.
Art collectives and street art
Unsurprisingly for a city crammed with creatives, Berlin is filled with arts spaces and studios. Located in a former hospital on the Mariannenplatz, Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien combines artist studios with exhibitions, workshops and film screenings, and is one of the best creative spaces to visit for a taste of the Berlin art scene.
The longest surviving stretch of the Berlin Wall, East Side Gallery is another must-see. An outdoor gallery like no other, the wall is covered in the original murals, graffiti and tags made by Berlin artists when the wall came down.
Berlin Art Week
Founded in 2012, Berlin Art Week brings together the leading lights of the city’s contemporary art scene. This year’s edition, which took place between 9th – 13th September 2020, looked a little different due to coronavirus restrictions, but still delivered the same quality and breadth of art. In fact, more digital access and a greater number of venues taking part arguably broadened the festival’s horizons – meaning 2021 is set to be even more exciting.
Discover Berlin’s art scene when you book a stay at Hotel de Rome. Contact reservations.derome@roccofortehotels.com or call +49 30 460 609 1430.
Paris is always a good idea. Except, perhaps, when it’s hosting the Olympic Summer Games, and the usual tourist throng looks set to multiply almost prohibitively. Of course, the Games are exciting, but if wading through crowds feels like a marathon effort, try a cultural relay around one of these stunning European cities instead.
As the gentle glow of each ornate chandelier begins to dim, a hush descends upon the audience before an all-consuming world of tragedy and triumph unfolds. Both exhilarating and deeply moving, a night at the opera has the distinct power to evoke emotion, while offering a unique insight into a perhaps unfamiliar city.
Journey through Europe’s symphony of unmissable opera houses, each steeped in history and grandeur.
This summer, Masseria Torre Maizza turns up the volume on a cause that needs our attention. Save the Olives, a non-profit organisation championed by Dame Helen Mirren, whose mission is to raise awareness of Xylella fastidiosa, a bacterium devastating Puglia’s olive trees and impacting the local economy and ecosystem. In support, we have devised an incredible calendar of music and art amidst our Masseria’s olive groves – a poignant setting, grounded in the cause.
