BER:
Pergamon's Partial Return - A Glimpse of Glory Before 2027 Closure

The scaffolding-clad Pergamon Museum became Berlin's most beautiful construction site this summer as workers buzzed around its neoclassical columns like bees around a hive. While the main hall's full reopening remains delayed until 2027, August 2024 marked a bittersweet victory: the partial return of some galleries after years of renovation.

What Visitors Can See Now

• The Ishtar Gate: Babylon's blue-glazed treasure now displayed in a temporary gallery with AR reconstructions
• The Market Gate of Miletus: Bathed in new LED lighting that mimics ancient Mediterranean sunlight
• Surprise Access: Workers occasionally open the construction elevator for rare rooftop views of Museum Island

The Controversy Continues

"Three more years is unacceptable," fumed art historian Klaus Weber, part of a group suing to accelerate the €1.2 billion renovation. Yet conservators insist the wait is necessary: "We're literally rebuilding history," explained lead architect Amina Farouk, pointing to seismic reinforcements that will protect the collections for centuries.

Clever Workarounds

Savvy travelers are:

• Booking the "Behind the Scaffolding" tours (Tuesdays only)
• Pairing visits with the nearby James-Simon-Galerie's scale models of the closed halls
• Taking the Museum Island ferry for unique exterior perspectives

Luxury Time Travel

For archaeology enthusiasts, PrestigeFly crafts seamless journeys:

• Business class flights with tablet preloaded with 3D museum reconstructions
• Private after-hours tours arranged through their VIP concierge
• Rimowa amenity kits containing replica cuneiform tablets