Dresden, once regarded as Germany's most beautiful city, was heavily damaged during World War II. However, the city's Baroque legacy has been rekindled in the historic centre.
Before the war, Dresden was marked by Baroque silhouettes and filled with cherished collections of fine and applied arts. The Allied air raids of February 1945 left the city in ruins, but decades of rebuilding have restored it to its former glory as a Kunststadt, or city of art.
The city's art is concentrated in the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden (SKD), comprising 15 museums that reflect the tastes and tendencies of Saxony's House of Wettin, who reigned from the 15th century until 1918. Some notable works include a bizarre carved cherry pit and Jan van Eyck's only known surviving drawing.
The SKD's collections are a must-see for art enthusiasts, with a wide range of works on display.
Dresden is once again a city of art, with a rich cultural heritage and a plethora of artistic treasures to discover.
Author's summary: Discover the top 10 works of art in Dresden, a city reborn as a hub of artistic expression.