Day 12 Munich

Weather 14 to 24.
Another summer like today in Munich.
We know everyone will be surprised, but the day started with coffee and pastry.

We decided to have a day at the museums. ( Sounds of surprise)

Crown Prince Ludwig, later King Ludwig I, was an interesting chap.
He wanted to make Munich the Athens of the North although the weather wasn’t going to be quite as good.
He built the Konislatz (King’s Square) that ended having an monumental gateway, the Propylaea, the Glypotek (1815-1830 to build) to house his collection of Greek and Roman bits and pieces and a building opposite, Staatliche Antikensammlungen (the State Collections of Antiquities), built in 1848. Public works moved at the same pass then as now
It’s good to be King.

The Glyptotek is amazing. Originally it had stucco walls and ceilings, with marble floors. WW2 changed that and a stripped down version probably displays the collection better nowadays. Incredible collection of sculpture and statuary beautifully displayed.
Had a great couple of hours there.

Best 4 euro we’ve spent.
But wait there’s more. The ticket also gets you into the State Collections of Antiquities across the square. Here they have glassware, bronzes, terra-cottas, jewellery, gold and silver.

Different kind of feel and vibe, staff seemed to be out of a TV series. We could almost follow the conversation as the cleaner bitched with one of the attendants. Quiet conversations, furtive glances.Someone was not happy. No idea how it all worked out.
Mark managed a minor, “emergency in aisle4” moment when he dropped his camera on the marble floor. Many people coming to see what he had broken. Fortunately it was only noise. Otherwise it would have been embarrassing to see a man cry!

That’s another two museums down the list is getting shorter every day.

Not far was the St Boniface Abbey, a Benedictine monastery featuring Byzantine architecture & the tombs of King Ludwig I & his queen. it was built in the late 19th century and extensively reconstructed following the war. Appears to be a refugee and social justice centre. Amazing interior. Have added a page of photos because it was spectacular.

We decided to have a half day. Get some washing and ironing out of the way so headed off home relatively early.

Ironing done, dinner in, all right with the world.