Ave Maria

Let's face it, Berlin may be one of the vibrant cities in Europe, but sometimes it can all get a bit too much. Should you decide that you have overdosed on hedonism and your soul needs a bit of a scrub, there is a store in Mitte devoted to just that. Ave Maria is based in an odd location, considering that it neighbours the business addresses of several ladies of negotiable affection. Not letting that perturb them, Dieter Funk and Ulrike Schuster went right ahead and opened their business with no money either behind them or from the bank. They ditched their careers in TV and teaching to make a go of Ave Maria, and it proved to be the right choice. The store stocks religious statues, pictures, literature, rosaries, and boasts 40 different varieties of incense.