From the Stasi Museum we take the subway to Alexanderplatz, a square we have seen from above from the Dom as well as seen the highlight, the TV tower, from everywhere in the city. It is named after Tsar Alexander I and it is a bustling commercial and tourist center as we find out when we exit outside. At least it is not raining, yet, but it will according to the forecast so it is time to explore before it rains.
The area is quite popular with many tourists taking photos and locals just enjoying the shopping malls around but there isn’t a lot really to do so we decide to walk toward the TV tower which anchors the area and is quite impressive when we are right below it and looking up.
The other major attraction here is the Red Town Hall (Rotes Rathaus) built between 1861 and 1869 in the style of the Northern Italy High Renaissance which is quite surprising to us as we assumed it was built by the Soviets to look similar to the Kremlin. In fact after the re-unification it now houses the unified Berlin City Hall. Soon we are distracted though as a pack of helicopters is flying above us, hope that Russia is not invading today (spoiler: it is not).
The last stop is the Marienkirche (St Mary Church) at the western end of the Alexanderplatz area. It is one of the older churches in Berlin as it was mentioned as the site of an alleged theft by Jews in 1243. As a result of these charges, a number of Jews were burnt at the stake at a place later called Judenberg. So not a happy start of its history.
It was Catholic originally but after the Reformation it has become Lutheran Protestant and it shows, there are no gaudy decorations and it is quite austere.
The most decorated area remaining is the impressive pulpit but otherwise it is not that special and soon we decide to move on as we still have a lot to visit today. Next are the Hackesche Höfe a Jugendstil style commercial area that has become quite popular.
