Dating back to 1132 under the reign of Norman King Roger II, Castello Normanno-Svevo is a true architectural testament to history. Although it endured destruction in 1156 by King William I of Sicily, it was resurrected and fortified in 1233 under the patronage of the Holy Roman emperor Frederick II. Over time, it saw various transformations during the Angevin domination, and after being held by several noble families, it eventually became a prison and barracks under the King of Naples. Encircled by a moat on all sides, except its northern border with the sea, accessible via a bridge and gate to the south, the castle primarily features Aragon walls and the prominent Hohenstaufen tower. Today, it serves as a venue for exhibitions, preserving a rich tapestry of history within its walls.

Added in early 2002 as the second main pillar of the Kunstsammlung and accommodating contemporary art was the Ständehaus am Kaiserteich, until 1988 the seat of the Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia. Four wings with continuous arcades surround the building’s central public area, a spacious plaza. The creative treatment of this representative building in the Historicist style (1876-80) by the Munich architectural office of Kiessler + Partner created a modern museum building with a striking glaze domed roof which shapes the building’s aesthetic and at the same time spans an expansive sculpture garden located on the uppermost level. Together, a flexible hall for temporary exhibitions in the ground floor level and the upper galleries comprise more than 5300 m² of surface area. Installations and artist’s rooms are an important focus of the Kunstsammlung, an area which has been expanded continuously in recent years.

Chances are, you’ve seen dozens of movies or television shows featuring or filmed in New York City. The 1984 ghost-comedy favorite “Ghostbusters” was filmed at various locations around Manhattan. Get photos at Columbus Circle, the famous traffic circle where the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man arrives. Whether you consider yourself a Carrie or a Charlotte, a Samantha or a Miranda, put on your Manolos and take the “Sex and the City” Hotspots Bus Tour to see more than 40 trendy Manhattan locales – including the famous Magnolia Bakery in the West Village – frequented by the female cast. Order a pastrami sandwich at Katz’s Deli, a locale made all the more legendary in “that scene” from “When Harry Met Sally” (1989). The Audrey Hepburn classic “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961) features multiple New York landmarks, and so does the legendary “The Godfather” (1972), Academy Award-winning “Birdman” (2014), the Christmas cult comedy “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” (1992), Natalie Portman’s dark thriller “Black Swan” (2010), and many more.