Lesser-visited ‘alternative Florence’ with world’s oldest Christmas market – where hugely popular sweet was invented

DRESDEN successful eastbound Germany, is often called "Florence connected the Elbe" acknowledgment to its riverside setting, Baroque architecture and world-class culture.

The German city earned its moniker aft creatives similar composers Karl Maria Von Weber and Richard Wagner, designer Gottfried Semper and creator Caspar David Friedrich lived successful the city, contributing to its estimation arsenic a taste powerhouse.

Located successful Saxony successful eastbound Germany, determination are respective parallels betwixt Dresden and Florence.

Both cities are separated by wide rivers and they're some packed with stunningly beauteous buildings.

Despite being decimated during World War Two, the metropolis was rebuilt to its erstwhile glory successful the years pursuing the war.

One landmark that was rebuilt pursuing the extremity of the warfare was the Frauenkirche (the Church of Our Lady).

The Lutheran religion was faithfully rebuilt aft donations were received from each implicit the world.

Open daily, visitors tin ascent to the apical of the dome level for sweeping views implicit the city.

Entry to the dome level costs €10 (£8.37) for a full-paying adult, with reduced-priced tickets disposable from €3 (£2.51).

Nearby, there's besides the Procession of Princes - 1 of the largest porcelain-tile artworks successful the world.

The artwork depicts a procession of dukes, kings, and scientists celebrating the city's history.

There's besides Zwinger Palace, a immense Baroque palace complex that houses respective museums, including the Old Masters Picture Gallery and the Dresden Porcelain Collection.

Meanwhile, astatine the Royal Palace, visitors tin spot the Green Vault, which is location to Europe's largest postulation of treasures - deliberation gold, crystals and diamonds.

Dresden is besides location to the "Balcony of Europe" - an elevated walkway that sits on the Elbe River.

Other buildings that person contributed to the taste prowess of the metropolis see The Semper Opera House and the Grosser Garten (a baroque-style park).

Impressive architecture aside, Dresden has besides earned a estimation for being 1 of the astir hep and vibrant cities successful the East of Germany.

Dresden’s vibrant Neustadt territory is known for its lively arts scene, eclectic shops, and trendy bars and restaurants.

It has plentifulness of kooky attractions too, including the Hygiene Museum - a aesculapian depository wherever visitors tin larn astir the quality body.

The German metropolis is besides thought to beryllium the birthplace of beverage cocoa beating the likes of Switzerland.

Locals Jordan and Timaeus invented beverage cocoa successful 1839 - though they utilized donkey beverage alternatively than cow's milk.

Dresden is besides location to the "Most Beautiful Milk Shop successful the World" - a rubric that was awarded to Dresdner Molkerei Gebrüder Pfund by the Guinness Book of Records due to the fact that of its unsocial design.

The Pfund brothers opened their store successful 1892, and it remains 1 of the city's apical attractions acknowledgment to the hand-painted bluish and achromatic tiles that decorate the store.

The metropolis is besides location to Dresden Christmas Market, besides known arsenic Dresdner Striezelmarkt, which is said to beryllium the oldest Christmas marketplace successful the world.

Dating backmost to 1434, the Dresden Christmas Market primitively began erstwhile Prussian King Frederick II and his brother, the Duke of Sigismund, agreed to big an outdoor marketplace connected Christmas Eve.

Now successful its 590th year, Dresden Christmas Market is location to the world's tallest Ore Mountain - a Christmas pyramid decorated with lights and ornaments.

The immense pyramid is simply a whopping 14.6m high, making it 1 of the market's focal points.

Other cardinal attractions astatine the German Christmas marketplace include a walk-through candle arch, thought to beryllium the largest successful the world.

Dresden Market is location to implicit 200 stalls, including stands selling sweets, lukewarm snacks, homemade gifts, and jewellery.

The marketplace volition unfastened connected November 29, 2023, and volition tally until Christmas Eve.

Ryanair operates nonstop flights from London Stansted to Leipzig Airport wherever Brit holidaymakers tin committee a bid to Dresden.

One-way fares commencement from £17.99 per person, with flights taking conscionable nether 2 hours.

Meanwhile, this German municipality is location to canal tours and a unique smoked beer.

And this historical riverside municipality is location to Britain's oldest brewery.