Dresden Germany is the capital city of the state of Saxony and is situated in a valley on the River Elbe. Dresden’s rich cultural heritage makes it a popular tourist site in Germany and many of the main tourist attractions in can be found under a mile from the Old Town. This area suffered heavy damage during World War II, but since reunification, efforts have been undertaken and Old Town is in the process of being restored to its former elegance. Built during the 18th century, Zwinger Palace houses several museums and contains more than 2000 paintings, the foremost being the famous Sistine Madonna by Raphael. Other popular tourist attractions are the Semper Opera House, the remarkable Blue Wonder steel bridge, and the Frauenkirche with its usually large 314-foot high dome. In 2004 the Elbe Valley and the centre of Dresden Germany with its numerous monuments and parks have been nominated as Unesco world heritage sites.