Day 1 Arrival in Madrid and departure to Toledo. Overnight in
Day
Possibility of visiting a local producer for a manchego cheese tasting
Sunday 22 May 2011
WORLD HERITAGE SITES: FROM CASTILE TO EXTREMADURA
LA RIOJA: WINE AND GASTRONOMY
It was during their southbound march through La Rioja that the Christians first integrated Mediterranean agriculture: the olive grove, the vineyard and the irrigation system. For centuries this junction would be both a disputed territory between the people of
Day 1 The first route of our journey takes us to the Bilbao Airport, designed by the renown architect Calatrava, followed by another landmark of contemporary art, Frank O. Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum, the newest icon of the Basque Country’s industrial capital city. We will further explore this refurbished city with a scenic tour that takes us from the newer suburbs to the historic old town and its Seven Streets.
Travel to Logroño for overnight.
THE PATH OF SAINT JAMES
The journey down this road continues to seduce the eager traveler time and again because of its religious nature, its historical continuity, its large cultural heritage ubiquitous throughout cities, towns, villages, convents, bridges and chapels.
Day 1 The first route of our journey takes us to the Bilbao Airport, designed by the renown architect Calatrava, followed by another landmark of contemporary art, Frank O. Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum, the newest icon of the Basque Country’s industrial capital city. We will further explore this refurbished city with a scenic tour that takes us from the newer suburbs to the historic old town and its Seven Streets, where we will have our first encounter with the Path of Saint James while visiting the Santiago
Travel to Logroño for overnight
Monday 31 May 2010
Poland complete: Cracow-Wroclaw-Torun-Gdansk-Masuria-Warsaw
Day 1: Arrival
Arrival in Cracow. For many years the city was the seat of the Polish kings and is still considered Poland’s cultural and artistic capital. In the evening, a guided Old Town walk.
Overnight in Cracow
Day 2: Cracow
During the city sightseeing tour of Cracow you will see the historic buildings in the Old Town, registered in 1978 on the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage. The centre of the Old Town is Europe’s largest medieval Market Square with the famous Cloth Hall. St Mary’s Church with its Gothic pentaptych altarpiece carved in limewood is a meeting point for all tourists. The afternoon is free for individual visits and sightseeings. We recommend a visit to the Royal Castle and the Cathedral on Wawel Hill or to the UNESCO salt mine of Wieliczka with its famous St Kinga’s Chapel at the depth of 101m or a sightseeing tour of the Jewish district of Kazimierz. We can arrange a kosher dinner with a Klezmer concert (live) in one of Jewish restaurants located there.
Overnight in Cracow
Day 3: Zakopane
During today’s excursion you will admire the highlights of the Tatra Mountains. It is the largest alpine-type massif in Central Europe with Mt Rysy (2499m.), the highest peak on the Polish side. Drive to the Pieniny National Park, a small but very picturesque limestone mountain range. Here you can enjoy a raft trip on the Dunajec River through the breath-taking landscape of the Dunajec Gorge. We continue our trip to Zakopane, Poland’s most popular centre of winter sports and summer hikes, located at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. Zakopane is famous for its still alive highlanders’ folklore. We recommend a traditional Highlander folklore show and lunch at a local restaurant with typical Highlanders’ specialities.
Overnight in Cracow
Day 4: Czestochowa
You leave Cracow in the morning for a visit to Czestochowa – Poland’s spiritual capital. The Pauline monastery on Bright Mountain houses the Chapel of the Miraculous Picture and the icon of Virgin Mary with the Christ child, known as Black Madonna. The Pauline monastery pulls in millions of pilgrims every year.
Overnight in Wroclaw
Day 5: Wroclaw
During today’s sightseeing tour you will discover the most important attractions and historic monuments of the city. Owing the numerous bridges and crossings, Wroclaw is also called a “Polish Venice”. Most of tourist attractions are located on the islands formed by the Odra River’s offshoots. The Ostrow Tumski Island shelters a complex of sacral buildings with the Gothic Cathedral of St John the Baptist. You will admire the Old Town Square with the Gothic town hall, which houses the city's historical museum. In the afternoon, opportunity to see the biggest baroque building in town – the Wroclaw University with its Aula Leopoldina, the city's largest secular hall from 17th century. The Centenary Hall from 1913 is the world's first modernist structure made of ferro-concrete, built by the German architect Max Berg and placed on UNESCO's World Heritage list. We also suggest visiting an impressive Panorama painting of the Battle of Raclawice, the oldest and only existing example of panorama painting in Poland.
Overnight in Wroclaw
Day 6: Poznan
After breakfast, we drive to Poznan, where our local guide awaits you for a city sightseeing tour. Tourists flock to the city centre where the Old Town Square contains a wealth of historical monuments and museums. The Renaissance town hall houses the Historical Museum of Poznan and the Museum of Musical Instruments is located nearby. Not far from the square stands the parish church, one of Poland’s most impressive baroque buildings with rich interior decorations. In 966, Ostrow Tumski Island witnessed the baptism of the first Polish ruler, Mieszko I
Overnight in Torun
Day 7: Torun
A sightseeing tour of Torun, the city of Nicolaus Copernicus. The 200.000 inhabitants of Torun are proud of the Old Town, which has been added to UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List. Founded in 1233 by the Teutonic Knights, the city is home to many splendid examples of historical architecture. The Old Town Hall combines elements of Gothic with late Renaissance. Opposite, there is a monument commemorating Nicolaus Copernicus and his house of his birth collects the documents and instruments from the epoch. Torun is also famous for its tasty ginger bread.
Overnight in Gdansk
Day 8: Gdansk & Gdynia & Sopot
The day starts with a comprehensive sightseeing tour of Tri-City incl. Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot. A walk through the Old Town of Gdansk including its beautiful City Hall, St Mary Church, Arturs Court and Neptun Fountain, which is a symbol of the city. The Gdansk Crane is situated at the waterfront of the Moltawa River and houses the Maritime Musuem. Visit to Sopot, a noble holiday resort with its longest wooden pier in Europe and to the harbour of Gdynia. Drive to the monumental cathedral of Oliwa, where you will listen to an organ concert. In the evening, we can arrange the dinner at a local restaurant in the Old Town of Gdansk
Overnight in Gdansk
Day 9: Malbork Castle
Visit to Malbork, well-known for its Europe’s largest Teutonic Knights’ castle, a classic medieval fortress with multiple defensive walls. It was built to become a seat of the Grand Master of the Order and is registered on the UNESCO List of World Heritage. Inside the castle, there is a museum with rich amber exhibits. Drive to Olsztyn and a city sightseeing tour of the Masurian Region’s capital or a cruise on the Elblag Canal, built in the 19th century, today a historic monument of hydrographical art and a real tourist attraction. The ship moves through a lake, a canal and a meadow and you do not need to get off!. On request a barbecue dinner.
Overnight in Masuria
Day 10: Great Masurian Lakes
During today’s sightseeing tour, you will admire the highlights of Masuria. Hitler’s headquarters, known as the Wolf’s Lair, are situated in the middle of a forest near Gierloz and consist of 30 buildings and 50 bunkers. Beside an own electric power generator and railway station there was an air-strip. The whole area was camouflaged and protected by wire entanglements and mine fields. Visit to Swieta Lipka, the Jesuit monastic complex considered the most beautiful baroque construction in Poland. Built in 1721, its baroque organ has figures of saints and angels that can be put in motion. Worth a visit is Poland’s summer capital Mikolajki, located in the middle of large lakes in a beautiful landscape. We suggest a boat cruise on one of the Great Masurian Lakes. In the evening, you can enjoy your dinner at the “Farmer’s Wedding”.
Overnight in Masuria
Day 11: Warsaw
You leave the picturesque Masurian Lakes District and drive to Warsaw, Poland’s booming capital. During the sightseeing tour, you will visit the most important tourist attractions of the city. Totally destroyed during the 2nd World War, the Old Town and the Royal Castle were reconstructed and placed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Along the Royal Route, you will find many old churches and palaces, including the Holy Cross church with the urn with Frederic Chopin’s heart. The tallest building in Warsaw, the Palace of Culture and Science, a gift from the former Soviet Union, is also worth a visit. We can arrange your farewell dinner in one of local restaurants in the Old Town.
Overnight in Warsaw
Day 12: Departure
Breakfast and departure.
_________________________
Services:
3 nights in Cracow
2 nights in Wroclaw
1 night in Torun
2 nights in Gdansk
2 nights in Masuria
1 night in Warsaw
halfboard with…
11 x buffet breakfast
11 x three-course dinner in the hotel
guided Old Town walk in Cracow
city sightseeing tour of Cracow with…
visit to St Mary’s Church incl. entrance fee
guided excursion to the Tatra Mountains and Pieniny National Park
city sightseeing tour in Zakopane
visit to the Pauline monastery with Black Madonna
city sightseeing tour of Wroclaw with…
visit to Aula Leopoldina incl. entrance fee
city sightseeing tour of Poznan
city sightseeing tour of Torun with
visit to the Copernicus’ family house incl. entrance fee
city sightseeing tour of Tri-City with Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot with…
entrance fee to the Oliwa Cathedral incl. organ concert
entrance fee to the Sopot pier
visit to Malbork castle incl. entrance fee
sightseeing tour of Masurian Lakes District with…
Entrance fee to the Wolf’s Lair
visit to the Swieta Lipka Jesuit complex incl. organ concert
visit to Mikolajki
city sightseeing tour of Warsaw
Arrival in Cracow. For many years the city was the seat of the Polish kings and is still considered Poland’s cultural and artistic capital. In the evening, a guided Old Town walk.
Overnight in Cracow
Day 2: Cracow
During the city sightseeing tour of Cracow you will see the historic buildings in the Old Town, registered in 1978 on the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage. The centre of the Old Town is Europe’s largest medieval Market Square with the famous Cloth Hall. St Mary’s Church with its Gothic pentaptych altarpiece carved in limewood is a meeting point for all tourists. The afternoon is free for individual visits and sightseeings. We recommend a visit to the Royal Castle and the Cathedral on Wawel Hill or to the UNESCO salt mine of Wieliczka with its famous St Kinga’s Chapel at the depth of 101m or a sightseeing tour of the Jewish district of Kazimierz. We can arrange a kosher dinner with a Klezmer concert (live) in one of Jewish restaurants located there.
Overnight in Cracow
Day 3: Zakopane
During today’s excursion you will admire the highlights of the Tatra Mountains. It is the largest alpine-type massif in Central Europe with Mt Rysy (2499m.), the highest peak on the Polish side. Drive to the Pieniny National Park, a small but very picturesque limestone mountain range. Here you can enjoy a raft trip on the Dunajec River through the breath-taking landscape of the Dunajec Gorge. We continue our trip to Zakopane, Poland’s most popular centre of winter sports and summer hikes, located at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. Zakopane is famous for its still alive highlanders’ folklore. We recommend a traditional Highlander folklore show and lunch at a local restaurant with typical Highlanders’ specialities.
Overnight in Cracow
Day 4: Czestochowa
You leave Cracow in the morning for a visit to Czestochowa – Poland’s spiritual capital. The Pauline monastery on Bright Mountain houses the Chapel of the Miraculous Picture and the icon of Virgin Mary with the Christ child, known as Black Madonna. The Pauline monastery pulls in millions of pilgrims every year.
Overnight in Wroclaw
Day 5: Wroclaw
During today’s sightseeing tour you will discover the most important attractions and historic monuments of the city. Owing the numerous bridges and crossings, Wroclaw is also called a “Polish Venice”. Most of tourist attractions are located on the islands formed by the Odra River’s offshoots. The Ostrow Tumski Island shelters a complex of sacral buildings with the Gothic Cathedral of St John the Baptist. You will admire the Old Town Square with the Gothic town hall, which houses the city's historical museum. In the afternoon, opportunity to see the biggest baroque building in town – the Wroclaw University with its Aula Leopoldina, the city's largest secular hall from 17th century. The Centenary Hall from 1913 is the world's first modernist structure made of ferro-concrete, built by the German architect Max Berg and placed on UNESCO's World Heritage list. We also suggest visiting an impressive Panorama painting of the Battle of Raclawice, the oldest and only existing example of panorama painting in Poland.
Overnight in Wroclaw
Day 6: Poznan
After breakfast, we drive to Poznan, where our local guide awaits you for a city sightseeing tour. Tourists flock to the city centre where the Old Town Square contains a wealth of historical monuments and museums. The Renaissance town hall houses the Historical Museum of Poznan and the Museum of Musical Instruments is located nearby. Not far from the square stands the parish church, one of Poland’s most impressive baroque buildings with rich interior decorations. In 966, Ostrow Tumski Island witnessed the baptism of the first Polish ruler, Mieszko I
Overnight in Torun
Day 7: Torun
A sightseeing tour of Torun, the city of Nicolaus Copernicus. The 200.000 inhabitants of Torun are proud of the Old Town, which has been added to UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List. Founded in 1233 by the Teutonic Knights, the city is home to many splendid examples of historical architecture. The Old Town Hall combines elements of Gothic with late Renaissance. Opposite, there is a monument commemorating Nicolaus Copernicus and his house of his birth collects the documents and instruments from the epoch. Torun is also famous for its tasty ginger bread.
Overnight in Gdansk
Day 8: Gdansk & Gdynia & Sopot
The day starts with a comprehensive sightseeing tour of Tri-City incl. Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot. A walk through the Old Town of Gdansk including its beautiful City Hall, St Mary Church, Arturs Court and Neptun Fountain, which is a symbol of the city. The Gdansk Crane is situated at the waterfront of the Moltawa River and houses the Maritime Musuem. Visit to Sopot, a noble holiday resort with its longest wooden pier in Europe and to the harbour of Gdynia. Drive to the monumental cathedral of Oliwa, where you will listen to an organ concert. In the evening, we can arrange the dinner at a local restaurant in the Old Town of Gdansk
Overnight in Gdansk
Day 9: Malbork Castle
Visit to Malbork, well-known for its Europe’s largest Teutonic Knights’ castle, a classic medieval fortress with multiple defensive walls. It was built to become a seat of the Grand Master of the Order and is registered on the UNESCO List of World Heritage. Inside the castle, there is a museum with rich amber exhibits. Drive to Olsztyn and a city sightseeing tour of the Masurian Region’s capital or a cruise on the Elblag Canal, built in the 19th century, today a historic monument of hydrographical art and a real tourist attraction. The ship moves through a lake, a canal and a meadow and you do not need to get off!. On request a barbecue dinner.
Overnight in Masuria
Day 10: Great Masurian Lakes
During today’s sightseeing tour, you will admire the highlights of Masuria. Hitler’s headquarters, known as the Wolf’s Lair, are situated in the middle of a forest near Gierloz and consist of 30 buildings and 50 bunkers. Beside an own electric power generator and railway station there was an air-strip. The whole area was camouflaged and protected by wire entanglements and mine fields. Visit to Swieta Lipka, the Jesuit monastic complex considered the most beautiful baroque construction in Poland. Built in 1721, its baroque organ has figures of saints and angels that can be put in motion. Worth a visit is Poland’s summer capital Mikolajki, located in the middle of large lakes in a beautiful landscape. We suggest a boat cruise on one of the Great Masurian Lakes. In the evening, you can enjoy your dinner at the “Farmer’s Wedding”.
Overnight in Masuria
Day 11: Warsaw
You leave the picturesque Masurian Lakes District and drive to Warsaw, Poland’s booming capital. During the sightseeing tour, you will visit the most important tourist attractions of the city. Totally destroyed during the 2nd World War, the Old Town and the Royal Castle were reconstructed and placed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Along the Royal Route, you will find many old churches and palaces, including the Holy Cross church with the urn with Frederic Chopin’s heart. The tallest building in Warsaw, the Palace of Culture and Science, a gift from the former Soviet Union, is also worth a visit. We can arrange your farewell dinner in one of local restaurants in the Old Town.
Overnight in Warsaw
Day 12: Departure
Breakfast and departure.
_________________________
Services:
3 nights in Cracow
2 nights in Wroclaw
1 night in Torun
2 nights in Gdansk
2 nights in Masuria
1 night in Warsaw
halfboard with…
11 x buffet breakfast
11 x three-course dinner in the hotel
guided Old Town walk in Cracow
city sightseeing tour of Cracow with…
visit to St Mary’s Church incl. entrance fee
guided excursion to the Tatra Mountains and Pieniny National Park
city sightseeing tour in Zakopane
visit to the Pauline monastery with Black Madonna
city sightseeing tour of Wroclaw with…
visit to Aula Leopoldina incl. entrance fee
city sightseeing tour of Poznan
city sightseeing tour of Torun with
visit to the Copernicus’ family house incl. entrance fee
city sightseeing tour of Tri-City with Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot with…
entrance fee to the Oliwa Cathedral incl. organ concert
entrance fee to the Sopot pier
visit to Malbork castle incl. entrance fee
sightseeing tour of Masurian Lakes District with…
Entrance fee to the Wolf’s Lair
visit to the Swieta Lipka Jesuit complex incl. organ concert
visit to Mikolajki
city sightseeing tour of Warsaw
Frederic Chopin and his heritage: Warsaw-Torun-Poznan-Duszniki-Kalisz-Warsaw
Warsaw-Torun-Poznan-Duszniki-Kalisz-Warsaw
Day 1: Arrival
Arrival in Warsaw, Poland’s capital and the home of Frederick Chopin’s heart. We recommend a welcome dinner in the Old Town restaurant.
Overnight in Warsaw
Day 2: Warsaw & Chopin’s birthplace
City sightseeing tour of Warsaw in Chopin’s footsteps. First you visit the Royal Lazienki Park with the Chopin monument. One of Warsaw’s major roads is Krakowskie Przedmiescie Street, which leads you straight to the Old Town. Here you visit the poor flat where Chopin lived for a couple of years. After that, visit to the Holly Cross Church, where Chopin’s heart is symbolically kept and the Ostrogski Palace, the seat of the Chopin society and Chopin museum. In the afternoon, excursion to Zelazowa Wola, the birthplace of Frederick Chopin’s where museum in his family house has been arranged. Drive to Brochow and visit to a Renaissance basilica where Frederick Chopin was baptised.
Overnight in Warsaw
Day 3: Chopin’s Centre in Szafarnia
You leave Warsaw and drive to Szafarnia in the Kujavia and Pomerania Region to visit Frederic Chopin’s Centre. In the former palace of Dziewanowski’s family, Chopin stayed twice during the summer holidays. Visit to Chopin’s museum and a walk through a historical park, surrounding the palace. Drive to Torun, via Golub Dobrzyn, where you can admire the castle of the Teutonic Knights from the 14th century. After arriving in Torun, a city sightseeing tour incl. the Old Town, which has been added to UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List. Founded in 1233 by the Teutonic Knights, the city has the greatest wealth of gothic architecture in Poland. Other monuments include the statue of Copernicus, city walls and gates and the Crooked Tower.
Overnight in Torun
Day 4: Poznan & museum of musical instruments
After breakfast, drive to Poznan. En route short stop in Gniezno, Poland’s first capital and the cradle of the Polish state. Gniezno’s cathedral with the precious pair of the 12 century bronze doors is definitely worth a visit. The city sightseeing tour of Poznan incl. the Old Town Square with the renaissance town hall, which houses the Museum of Musical Instruments, with the Frederic Chopin’s original piano.
Overnight in Poznan
Day 5: Wroclaw
We leave Poznan and drive to Duszniki Zdroj, where Chopin Music Festival is held every year in August. En route, a city sightseeing tour of Wroclaw, city of one hundred bridges. The Old Town Square was set up in the 13th century and is surrounded by colourful burgher houses. The sightseeing tour includes also the gothic town hall, Wroclaw university with its marvellous baroque Aula Leopoldina, Ostrow Tumski Island with gothic Cathedral of St. John and the Cenntenial Hall, placed on UNESCO’ World Heritage List. Drive through the region of Lower Silesia to Duszniki Zdroj.
Overnight in Duszniki Zdroj
Day 6: Duszniki Zdroj
The city is well-known for its spas and V.I.P. guests. Here, Frederick Chopin spent some time with his Polish mother. The Frederick Chopin Spa Theatre, in which he gave concerts in 1826, was built with a group of three other buildings around the spa park. Today, a lot of piano concerts, theatre performances and other musical events take place here. Every year in August, the International Chopin Music Festival is held in Duszniki Zdroj to commemorate the charity recitals of Frederick Chopin in 1826, and gathers the greatest Polish pianists as well as famous artists from all over the world. Worth a visit is also a unique paper mill from 17th century, which is still in operation and produces hand-made paper according to old technology. In the afternoon, free time for individual visits.
Overnight in Duszniki Zdroj
Day 7: Antonin
After breakfast, we drive to Klodzko, well-known for its huge stronghold with underground corridors, a well-preserved Old Town complex with a miniature replica of Charles’ Bridge in Prague. The next stop is in Antonin to visit the Hunting Palace belonging to Prince Antoni Radziwil, a wooden four-storey building, where Frederick Chopin stayed twice in 1827 and 1829. In the palace, there is Chopin’s chamber, exhibiting some of his mementos. Drive to Kalisz, Poland’s oldest town.
Overnight in Kalisz
Day 8: Piano concert
After breakfast, drive back to Warsaw. In the evening, the highlight of the tour – an exclusive Chopin piano concert in one of Warsaw’s palaces, organized especially for your group including a glass of champagne.
Overnight in Warsaw
Day 9: Departure
Breakfast and departure.
_________________________
Services:
3 nights in Warsaw
1 night in Torun
1 night in Poznan
2 nights in Duszniki Zdroj
1 night in Kalisz
half board with…
8 x buffet breakfast
8 x three-course dinner in the hotel
city sightseeing tour of Warsaw in footsteps of F. Chopin with…
visit to Ostrogski Palace incl. entrance fee to Chopin museum
visit to Chopin’s flat incl. entrance fee
visit to the Holly cross Church
guided excursion to Zelazowa Wola incl. entrance fee to the museum
visit to the basilica in Brochow
visit to the Chopin’s Centre in Szafarnia incl. entrance fee
city sightseeing tour of Torun
city sightseeing tour
Day 1: Arrival
Arrival in Warsaw, Poland’s capital and the home of Frederick Chopin’s heart. We recommend a welcome dinner in the Old Town restaurant.
Overnight in Warsaw
Day 2: Warsaw & Chopin’s birthplace
City sightseeing tour of Warsaw in Chopin’s footsteps. First you visit the Royal Lazienki Park with the Chopin monument. One of Warsaw’s major roads is Krakowskie Przedmiescie Street, which leads you straight to the Old Town. Here you visit the poor flat where Chopin lived for a couple of years. After that, visit to the Holly Cross Church, where Chopin’s heart is symbolically kept and the Ostrogski Palace, the seat of the Chopin society and Chopin museum. In the afternoon, excursion to Zelazowa Wola, the birthplace of Frederick Chopin’s where museum in his family house has been arranged. Drive to Brochow and visit to a Renaissance basilica where Frederick Chopin was baptised.
Overnight in Warsaw
Day 3: Chopin’s Centre in Szafarnia
You leave Warsaw and drive to Szafarnia in the Kujavia and Pomerania Region to visit Frederic Chopin’s Centre. In the former palace of Dziewanowski’s family, Chopin stayed twice during the summer holidays. Visit to Chopin’s museum and a walk through a historical park, surrounding the palace. Drive to Torun, via Golub Dobrzyn, where you can admire the castle of the Teutonic Knights from the 14th century. After arriving in Torun, a city sightseeing tour incl. the Old Town, which has been added to UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List. Founded in 1233 by the Teutonic Knights, the city has the greatest wealth of gothic architecture in Poland. Other monuments include the statue of Copernicus, city walls and gates and the Crooked Tower.
Overnight in Torun
Day 4: Poznan & museum of musical instruments
After breakfast, drive to Poznan. En route short stop in Gniezno, Poland’s first capital and the cradle of the Polish state. Gniezno’s cathedral with the precious pair of the 12 century bronze doors is definitely worth a visit. The city sightseeing tour of Poznan incl. the Old Town Square with the renaissance town hall, which houses the Museum of Musical Instruments, with the Frederic Chopin’s original piano.
Overnight in Poznan
Day 5: Wroclaw
We leave Poznan and drive to Duszniki Zdroj, where Chopin Music Festival is held every year in August. En route, a city sightseeing tour of Wroclaw, city of one hundred bridges. The Old Town Square was set up in the 13th century and is surrounded by colourful burgher houses. The sightseeing tour includes also the gothic town hall, Wroclaw university with its marvellous baroque Aula Leopoldina, Ostrow Tumski Island with gothic Cathedral of St. John and the Cenntenial Hall, placed on UNESCO’ World Heritage List. Drive through the region of Lower Silesia to Duszniki Zdroj.
Overnight in Duszniki Zdroj
Day 6: Duszniki Zdroj
The city is well-known for its spas and V.I.P. guests. Here, Frederick Chopin spent some time with his Polish mother. The Frederick Chopin Spa Theatre, in which he gave concerts in 1826, was built with a group of three other buildings around the spa park. Today, a lot of piano concerts, theatre performances and other musical events take place here. Every year in August, the International Chopin Music Festival is held in Duszniki Zdroj to commemorate the charity recitals of Frederick Chopin in 1826, and gathers the greatest Polish pianists as well as famous artists from all over the world. Worth a visit is also a unique paper mill from 17th century, which is still in operation and produces hand-made paper according to old technology. In the afternoon, free time for individual visits.
Overnight in Duszniki Zdroj
Day 7: Antonin
After breakfast, we drive to Klodzko, well-known for its huge stronghold with underground corridors, a well-preserved Old Town complex with a miniature replica of Charles’ Bridge in Prague. The next stop is in Antonin to visit the Hunting Palace belonging to Prince Antoni Radziwil, a wooden four-storey building, where Frederick Chopin stayed twice in 1827 and 1829. In the palace, there is Chopin’s chamber, exhibiting some of his mementos. Drive to Kalisz, Poland’s oldest town.
Overnight in Kalisz
Day 8: Piano concert
After breakfast, drive back to Warsaw. In the evening, the highlight of the tour – an exclusive Chopin piano concert in one of Warsaw’s palaces, organized especially for your group including a glass of champagne.
Overnight in Warsaw
Day 9: Departure
Breakfast and departure.
_________________________
Services:
3 nights in Warsaw
1 night in Torun
1 night in Poznan
2 nights in Duszniki Zdroj
1 night in Kalisz
half board with…
8 x buffet breakfast
8 x three-course dinner in the hotel
city sightseeing tour of Warsaw in footsteps of F. Chopin with…
visit to Ostrogski Palace incl. entrance fee to Chopin museum
visit to Chopin’s flat incl. entrance fee
visit to the Holly cross Church
guided excursion to Zelazowa Wola incl. entrance fee to the museum
visit to the basilica in Brochow
visit to the Chopin’s Centre in Szafarnia incl. entrance fee
city sightseeing tour of Torun
city sightseeing tour
Pilgrimage tours - Spiritual Poland: Warsaw-Lichen-Cracow
Eastern Europe - Poland - Spiritual Poland: Warsaw-Lichen-Cracow
Pilgrimage tours - Spiritual Poland: Warsaw-Lichen-Cracow
Day 1: Arrival
Arrival in Warsaw, a city with a lot of historical monuments, old churches, and Poland’s fast-growing capital.
Overnight in Warsaw
Day 2: Warsaw
After breakfast, a city sightseeing tour of Warsaw including the Old Town with the Royal Castle placed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, the Royal Route, the ?azienki Park with Frederick Chopin’s monument. Visit to St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, with the grave of priest Jerzy Popie?uszko, murdered by SB (Security Service) in 1984. Until today, nearly 15 million people have prayed over his grave, including many presidents, prime ministers, as well as John Paul II and Benedict XVI (then as cardinal Ratzinger). We can organize your dinner at the Old Town restaurant.
Overnight in Warsaw
Day 3: Niepokalanow
You leave Warsaw and drive to Niepokalanow to visit the Sanctuary of Immaculate Virgin Mary, the Franciscan monastery founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe and the museum of the Saint. Drive to the Sanctuary of Our Lady in Lichen, with the biggest church in Poland and one of the biggest in the world. In 1999 the sanctuary was consecrated by John Paul II and every year it is visited by over 1.5 million pilgrims.
Overnight in Lichen
Day 4: Lichen & Gniezno
In the morning, a visit to the sanctuary including the holy image of Our Lady of Lichen from the 18th century, Golgotha and the Basilica, which can comfortably house 17,000 faithful. Drive to Gniezno, Poland’s first capital and the seat of the primate and visit to the gothic Cathedral with the relics of St. Adalbert. The most precious possession of the church is a pair of Romanesque bronze doors, presenting scenes from the life and death of St. Adalbert.
Return to Lichen and overnight there
Day 5: Czestochowa
After breakfast, drive to Czestochowa, the religious capital of Poland. Visiting Jasna Gora Pauline monastery, famous for its holy image of Virgin Mary with the Christ child. In the afternoon, travel to Cracow. We recommend dinner at local restaurant in the Old Town.
Overnight in Cracow
Day 6: Cracow & Lagiewniki
During today’s city sightseeing tour of Cracow you will see the historic buildings in the Old Town, registered on the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage in 1978. The centre of the Old Town is Europe’s largest medieval Market Square with the famous Cloth Hall and gothic St Mary’s Church. On the Wawel Hill, you will visit the Royal Castle and Cathedral. On the way back to the Old Town you pass the Jagiellonian University, founded in 1364 and one of the oldest in Europe. In the afternoon, a visit to the Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Lagiewniki, where St Faustyna died was buried on October 5th 1938.
Overnight in Cracow
Day 7: Kalwaria Zebrzydowska & Wadowice
After breakfast, a trip in the steps of John Paul II . Visiting the Bernardine monastery and so-called Calvary in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, which was placed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. The baroque church from 17th century contains the famous miraculous picture of our Lady of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska. Drive to Wadowice, with the Pope’s John Paul II birth house, which has been turned into a museum and Wadowice’s basilica, in which the Pope was baptized. Visit to a café to try the famous “papal cream cakes”.
Overnight in Cracow
Day 8: Departure
Breakfast and departure.
_________________________
Services:
2 nights in Warsaw
2 nights in Lichen
3 nights in Cracow
half board with
7 x buffet breakfast
7 x three-course dinner in the hotel
city sightseeing tour of Warsaw with…
visit to St. Stanislaus Kostka Church with the grave of priest Jerzy Popieluszko
visit to Sanctuary of Immaculate Virgin Mary in Niepokalanow with…
visit to St. Maximilian Kolbe’s museum
visit to the Sanctuary in Lichen
visit to Gniezno’s Cathedral incl. entrance fee
visit to the Pauline Monastery in Czestochowa with…
the holy icon of Black Madonna
city sightseeing tour of Cracow with…
St Mary’s church incl. entrance fee
visit to the Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Lagiewniki
excursion to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska and Wadowice with…
visit to the Bernardine monastery in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska incl. entrance fee
visit to the John Paul’s II birth house incl. entrance fee
visit to Wadowice’s basilica
coffee & “papal cream cake”
Pilgrimage tours - Spiritual Poland: Warsaw-Lichen-Cracow
Day 1: Arrival
Arrival in Warsaw, a city with a lot of historical monuments, old churches, and Poland’s fast-growing capital.
Overnight in Warsaw
Day 2: Warsaw
After breakfast, a city sightseeing tour of Warsaw including the Old Town with the Royal Castle placed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, the Royal Route, the ?azienki Park with Frederick Chopin’s monument. Visit to St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, with the grave of priest Jerzy Popie?uszko, murdered by SB (Security Service) in 1984. Until today, nearly 15 million people have prayed over his grave, including many presidents, prime ministers, as well as John Paul II and Benedict XVI (then as cardinal Ratzinger). We can organize your dinner at the Old Town restaurant.
Overnight in Warsaw
Day 3: Niepokalanow
You leave Warsaw and drive to Niepokalanow to visit the Sanctuary of Immaculate Virgin Mary, the Franciscan monastery founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe and the museum of the Saint. Drive to the Sanctuary of Our Lady in Lichen, with the biggest church in Poland and one of the biggest in the world. In 1999 the sanctuary was consecrated by John Paul II and every year it is visited by over 1.5 million pilgrims.
Overnight in Lichen
Day 4: Lichen & Gniezno
In the morning, a visit to the sanctuary including the holy image of Our Lady of Lichen from the 18th century, Golgotha and the Basilica, which can comfortably house 17,000 faithful. Drive to Gniezno, Poland’s first capital and the seat of the primate and visit to the gothic Cathedral with the relics of St. Adalbert. The most precious possession of the church is a pair of Romanesque bronze doors, presenting scenes from the life and death of St. Adalbert.
Return to Lichen and overnight there
Day 5: Czestochowa
After breakfast, drive to Czestochowa, the religious capital of Poland. Visiting Jasna Gora Pauline monastery, famous for its holy image of Virgin Mary with the Christ child. In the afternoon, travel to Cracow. We recommend dinner at local restaurant in the Old Town.
Overnight in Cracow
Day 6: Cracow & Lagiewniki
During today’s city sightseeing tour of Cracow you will see the historic buildings in the Old Town, registered on the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage in 1978. The centre of the Old Town is Europe’s largest medieval Market Square with the famous Cloth Hall and gothic St Mary’s Church. On the Wawel Hill, you will visit the Royal Castle and Cathedral. On the way back to the Old Town you pass the Jagiellonian University, founded in 1364 and one of the oldest in Europe. In the afternoon, a visit to the Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Lagiewniki, where St Faustyna died was buried on October 5th 1938.
Overnight in Cracow
Day 7: Kalwaria Zebrzydowska & Wadowice
After breakfast, a trip in the steps of John Paul II . Visiting the Bernardine monastery and so-called Calvary in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, which was placed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. The baroque church from 17th century contains the famous miraculous picture of our Lady of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska. Drive to Wadowice, with the Pope’s John Paul II birth house, which has been turned into a museum and Wadowice’s basilica, in which the Pope was baptized. Visit to a café to try the famous “papal cream cakes”.
Overnight in Cracow
Day 8: Departure
Breakfast and departure.
_________________________
Services:
2 nights in Warsaw
2 nights in Lichen
3 nights in Cracow
half board with
7 x buffet breakfast
7 x three-course dinner in the hotel
city sightseeing tour of Warsaw with…
visit to St. Stanislaus Kostka Church with the grave of priest Jerzy Popieluszko
visit to Sanctuary of Immaculate Virgin Mary in Niepokalanow with…
visit to St. Maximilian Kolbe’s museum
visit to the Sanctuary in Lichen
visit to Gniezno’s Cathedral incl. entrance fee
visit to the Pauline Monastery in Czestochowa with…
the holy icon of Black Madonna
city sightseeing tour of Cracow with…
St Mary’s church incl. entrance fee
visit to the Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Lagiewniki
excursion to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska and Wadowice with…
visit to the Bernardine monastery in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska incl. entrance fee
visit to the John Paul’s II birth house incl. entrance fee
visit to Wadowice’s basilica
coffee & “papal cream cake”
Saturday 17 April 2010
Self-Drive - New England Explorer
Tour Itinerary Day 01 - Boston Arrival Arrive at Logan international Airport. Pick up your rental car and proceed to your hotel. enjoy your evening at leisure. Day 02 - Boston This morning at 08:00 you will be met by a representative and provided with a welcome kit which includes driving instructions, vouchers, and maps for your tour. The remainder of the day is free to explore Boston, the cradle of American liberty. the revolutionary era comes to like along the Freedom trail walking route. Visit the haunts of the patriots who stoked the fires of democracy throughout the Colonies. Day 03 - Boston – Mid Coast Maine Along the route north of Boston lies almost four centuries of history, as well as some of the coast’s finest beaches and seascapes. First stop is Salem, the location of the infamous witch trials. then drive along the coast to the charming harbour towns of Gloucester and Rockport. enjoy the old-time seaport atmosphere of Portsmouth, New Hampshire and its wealth of historic buildings before crossing into Maine. Pass through Kennebunkport, summer home to Presidents, and enjoy exploring Portland, Maine’s largest city. |
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