Berlin Altes Museum-Museum Island

Altes Museum

The Altes Museum contains many Greek and Roman relics. Built between 1823 and 1830 designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, it is one of the most important works in the architecture of Classicism. With its exterior and an interior structure of great precision after the Ancient Greek style, Schinkel pursued Humboldt's idea of the museum as an educational institution open to the public.

The monumental order of the 18 fluted ionic columns, the wide stretch of the atrium, the rotunda - an explicit reference to the pantheon in Rome - and finally the grand staircase are all architectural elements which, up to this point, were reserved for stately buildings.
Originally built to house all of Berlin's art collections, the Altes Museum has accommodated the Collection of Classical Antiquities since 1904. Between 1943 and 1945 the building was severely damaged by fire. Reconstruction work continued up until 1966.

Since 24 February 2011, ancient worlds are opened up for people to explore in a completely new display in the Altes Museum. Now that the Etruscans and Romans on the building's upper floor have already enthralled some 250,000 visitors since their unveiling in July 2010, the Collection of Classical Antiquities is about to present its world-famous collection of Greek art in a wholly new guise on the main floor.