You can thank the King for this little piece of Italy. The grand wings and imposing towers of the Belvedere Palace wouldn’t look out of place on a Roman piazza, but owing to Friedrich Wilhelm IV’s “Italian dream” to transport renaissance architecture to his northern kingdom, you’ll find this slice of grandeur just 3 km north of Potsdam city center. Combined with the equally handsome Pomona Temple and Lenné Park, it makes for a hilltop wonder that gives strong dolce vita vibes. A big part of the sweet life is of course food – something you’ll discover at next month’s Italian evening(03.09.2022, 18h), held in the grounds of this Prussian-commissioned Palazzo. While enjoying a late summer evening you can sample Italian antipasti, selected wines and diverse music from singer and actor Adriano Mottola.
You can turn things into an all-day affair by spending some time strolling around the grounds of the palace site before paying the Temple of Pomona a visit where, starting 27.08, you can see an exhibition from artist Georg Baselitz featuring nine new works. Also worth a look is the permanent exhibition in the palace itself where you can discover the site’s 150-year history. And finally, Pfingstberg’s 76m elevation means it has one more trick up its sleeve: a breathtaking view that stretches from the surrounding gardens across the green expanses of Brandenberg right through to Potsdamer Platz.
Text: Benji Haughton / Photos: Leo Seidel & Katja Hube © SPSG/FVP
Belvedere Palace, Pfingstberg, Neuer Garten, 14469 Potsdam; map
Open daily 10–18h (April to October); Sat & Sun 10–16h (March & November). For more information and ticket prices see the website.
Temple of Pomona, Am Pfingstberg, 14469 Potsdam; map
Thur–Sun & public holidays 11–17h (until 31.10.2022). Free entry; donations welcome.
Advance tickets for the Italian evening (not including food and drink) can be bought at the Belvedere ticket office or reserved by phone on 033 120057930.
@belvederepfingstberg
