Pilgrimage to Central Europe

 

DAY 1 BERLIN

Arrival in Berlin. Airport transfer to a hotel. Overnight in Berlin.

DAY 2 BERLIN - POTSDAM

Half day city tour of Berlin (Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, TV tower, Berliner Dom, Checkpoint Charlie), visit in Potsdam – Cecilienhof (1945, the Potsdam Conference negotiations between the victorious Allies of World War II were held there) and beautiful Sanssouci Palace and Park. Overnight in Berlin.

DAY 3 WROCLAW

Departure for Poland. Visit to a Manufacture of Traditional Pottery in Boleslawiec. Half day city tour of Wroclaw – called the Polish Venice or a city of a thousand of bridges. In the evening – impressive show of music and light at the fountain in the Cennential Hall (UNESCO) area. Overnight in Wroclaw.

DAY 4 CZĘSTOCHOWA - CRACOVIA

Departure for Czestochowa – the Jasna Gora Monastery - the most famous Marian sanctuary and pilgrimage place in Poland, where the miraculous icon of Black Madonna is kept. Every year, in the first days of August, Catholic Poles from the whole Poland set out for a walking pilgrimage to the shrine. They gather there on 15th August to celebrate the holiday of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (more than 30 thousand of pilgrims participate in the holy mass there). Overnight in Cracow.

DAY 5 KRAKOW - WIELICZKA SALT MINE

Half day city tour of Krakow – Wawel Hill with the Cathedral and Castle, the Old Town (UNESCO) with the Main Market Square - the largest medieval market place in Europe! Guided tour of the Wieliczka Salt Mine(UNESCO) - one of the oldest in the world, visited every year by over one million of tourists. Overnight in Cracow.

DAY 6 LAGIEWNIKI – KALWARIA ZEBRZYDOWSKA – WADOWICE

Visit to the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Lagiewniki. Saint Faustina Kowalska lived and died here. In 2002 John Paul II consecrated the newly built church and during the consecration mass he entrusted the whole world to Divine Mercy. We continue to Wadowice – the birthplace of John Paul II. In Karol Wojtyla’s hometown we’ll see the house where he used to live and visit the basilica where he was baptized. Next we travel to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (UNESCO). The sanctuary in Kalwaria (established in 17the century) is one of the most famous pilgrimage places in Poland. The Pope visited it very often as a young boy, priest and bishop to pray when strolling along the Paths of Calvary.  Overnight in Cracow.

DÍA 7 LEVOCA - BUDAPEST

Departure for Budapest. A stop for dinner in Levoca (Slovakia) – one of the most popular places of Marian cult in Slovakia. Overnight in Budapest.

DAY 8 BUDAPEST

Half day city tour of Budapest – the old town with Royal Palace, St. Mathias Church and the famous Fishermen’s Bastion and  the Square of the Heroes, the Basilica of St. Istvan and Parliament in Pest district. Visit to Szentendre – small picturesque town near Budapest, known for numerous galleries, artists and cafes. Overnight in Budapest.

DAY 9 VIENNA

Departure for Vienna – half day tour – the Old Town: the Main Square and St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Parliament, Opera House, the Town Hall, the Museums Quartier, the Hofburg Palace quarter. Overnight in Vienna.

DAY 10 WACHAU VALLEY

Full day tour to Wachau Valley - medieval towns of Krems and Durnstein, Melk monastery (a pearl of Baroque architecture), boat cruise from Spitz to Melk on Danube river. Overnight in Vienna.

DAY 11 CESKY KRUMLOV - PRAGUE

Departure for Czech Republic. Visit to Cesky Krumlov – a beautiful town on a bend of Vltava River, a pearl of Renaissance architecture, listed by UNESCO thanks to its unique preserved medieval core. Overnight in Prague.

DAY 12 PRAGUE

Half day guided tour of Prague – Hradczany district with Royal Castle and impressive St. Vitus Cathedral, the Market Square with the famous astronomical Orloj clock and the iconic Charles Bridge. In the afternoon – time at leisure and for shopping in numerous shops with Bohemian Crystal products. Overnight in Prague.

DAY 13 DEPARTURE

Airport transfer.