Hop On Hop Off in Dresden

Dresden, the capital of the Free State of Saxony in eastern Germany, has a tragic history due to its destruction by a massive firebombing towards the end of World War II. This event resulted in the loss of at least 25,000 lives. However, after the German reunification in 1990, much of the city's past architectural and cultural glory was restored, including the Frauenkirche, which was completely destroyed but has been reconstructed stone by original stone. Dresden is still referred to as "Florence on the Elbe" (das Elbflorenz).

 

Today, Dresden is a thriving city with a population of over half a million. Visitors can explore plenty of attractions and landmarks, such as the Semper Opera House. This landmark was built between 1871 and 1878 and named after Gottfried Semper, the architect who designed and built the classic building to replace the first Hoftheater that had burned down.