Florence on the Elbe

That's the nickname Dresden, which has quite literally risen from the ashes after bombings in WW2 which destroyed some 90% of the city.

The experience of the old city/ altstadt und altmarkt was considerably different from that of other states because most things are fairly new from a historical perspective, however through the collection and use of old stones and materials recovered after the war; parts of many of the buildings retain their old look and even the black sut stains, a reminder of it's past.