Central Europe and Medjugorje

Day 1: Arrive in Poland

Arrival at the Krakow - Balice airport. Our Polish tour leader will meet you at the airport. We will transfer to the hotel. Check-in to hotel. Dinner. Overnight stay. 

 

Day 2:  Krakow

After breakfast we visit Krakow, the former royal capital, which fully deserved its position on the first ever published UNESCO World Heritage List.  Our sightseeing tour of the Old Town includes the Royal Walk with all its monuments. We visit St. Mary's Church with the majestic wooden altar carved by Veit Stoss, and see the medieval Cloth Hall in the heart of the main square. The tour ends on Wawel Hill with a guided visit to the Royal Cathedral and a walk around the Royal Castle. We visit the Jewish quarter, Kazimierz. This takes us to the entrance to the Remah Synagogue, which has a small historic graveyard. We have dinner and stay overnight in Krakow.

 

Day 3: Wadowice, Auschwitz and Krakow

After breakfast we visit Wadowice, the birthplace of St. Pope John Paul II to see the parish church and the house where he was born. Nowadays the house functions as a modern Papal Museum, mainly showcasing various moments from the saint’s life. We continue to Oswiecim where we visit the former concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. It is now a museum. It is a unique UNESCO site, as it is the largest extermination camp in the world and a world symbol of terror, genocide, and the Holocaust. It was established by the Nazi’s in 1940 on the outskirts of the industrial town of Oswiecim and, during Hitler’s occupation of the area, it was home to one of the largest mass killings of people, predominantly of Jewish origin. We return to Krakow where we have dinner and stay overnight.

 

Day 4: Wieliczka 

After breakfast we take an excursion to the world-famous Wieliczka, home to another unique UNESCO World Heritage site, the Wieliczka Salt Mine. At over 300m deep, we explore its magnificent underground chapels, lakes, and chambers carved from salt. Wieliczka is the oldest salt mine in the world that is still in operation. We return to Krakow where we have dinner and stay overnight.

 

Day 5: Vienna

After breakfast we travel to Vienna, the capital of Austria. For centuries Vienna was an imperial city and, although the Habsburg Empire collapsed, it still has retained the traits of a metropolis. We will enjoy a panoramic city tour covering Vienna’s most important sites. The Ringstrasse, which includes the State Opera House, Parliament, City Hall, Burgtheater, and the Hofburg Imperial Palace, will provide you with a glimpse of Imperial Vienna. On the way to the hotel we stop briefly at Belvedere Palace, which affords a wonderful view of the city. Overnight stay in Vienna.

 

Day 6: Mariazell

After breakfast we leave in the direction of Mariazell, a city in the Styria region of central Austria. The sanctuary located here is one of the most famous Marian cult centers in Central Europe. St. Pope John Paul II visited the Mariazell Basilica on 13 Sept. 1983. Pope Benedict XVI visited 8 Sept. 2007. After sightseeing we leave for Italy. In the evening we get to a hotel near Venice. Overnight stay.

 

Day 7: Venice

After breakfast we visit Venice, one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. We start our visit to the city of gondoliers with a water tram ride. We will see the famous St. Mark's Square, Campanile, St. Mark’s Basilica, the Bridge of Sighs, the Doge's Palace, and the Rialto district with the famous Rialto Bridge. In the evening we go to lodging and dinner in the Assisi neighborhood.

 

Day 8: Assisi

After breakfast we leave the hotel for Assisi, the hometown of St. Francis, the patron saint of animals and the environment, and the founder of the Franciscan Order. We visit the tomb of St. Francis and explore his birthplace - the quaint hilltop that still retains something of the atmosphere of the early 1200s, the period when St. Francis began his ministry. In the huge 13th century Basilica we will see many things belonging to the saint, as well as a series of frescoes depicting his life. We will also visit the Chapel, the Portiuncula, the briar-bush that transformed in a rose bush, and the cave where the saint retired for prayer. In the evening we arrive at a hotel outside Rome for dinner and an overnight stay.

 

Day 9: Rome

After breakfast, we travel to Rome. We begin by viewing the Eternal City from St. John’s Basilica at Lateran. Then we walk through the Colosseum, the Roman Forum (the focal point of Ancient Rome), and the Capitol, ending on the Piazza Venezia. After this, we enjoy the panoramic views of the city from Aventine Hill, with its famous Orange Gardens. We finish our visit of Rome at St. Paul Outside the Walls. We return to the hotel, have dinner and an overnight stay. 

 

Day 10: Vatican

After breakfast we travel to the Vatican. This day we will pray at the tomb of St. Pope John Paul II and see the Basilica and St. Peter’s Square. Around noon, we have free time for lunch and shopping. In the afternoon walk through baroque-style Rome – we will see, among other things: the famous squares and fountains of Rome, such as the Piazza  Navona with its Four Rivers Fountain, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Piazza di Spagna, and the Spanish Steps. In the evening we return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

 

Day 11: Monte St. Angelo, San Giovanni Rotondo

After breakfast we visit Monte St. Angelo, where we see the beautifully situated Sanctuary of the Archangel Michael. We'll see the place of the apparitions of St. Michael the Archangel – a cave over which the church was built. In the afternoon we drive to San Giovanni Rotondo, a place associated with the extraordinary personage of Padre Pio who, by the sacrifice of his suffering realized the message of divine love. We visit the Basilica and the tomb of St. Padre Pio. There will be free time for personal prayer. Dinner and an overnight stay in San Giovanni Rotondo.

 

Day 12: San Giovanni Rotondo, ferry boat to Dubrovnik

After breakfast, we have a few last moments in San Giovanni Rotondo. In the afternoon we drive towards Bari/ Brindisi, where we board a ferry boat to Croatia. We have dinner aboard the ferry. Night cruise to Dubrovnik.

 

Day 13: Dubrovnik

In the morning we arrive at the beautiful city of Dubrovnik. After breakfast we will disembark from the ferry. We will explore the city, known as the "Pearl of the Adriatic". Dubrovnik is acknowledged as a monument of world cultural heritage. We will visit the Franciscan monastery, the Rector's Palace, the Dominican monastery, the Onofrio’s Fountains, the Pile Gate, Placa Street, and towers, fortresses and clock towers. We will also see the biggest attraction, Dubrovnik’s defensive battlements, which encircle nearly the entire city. There will be a short boat ride along the walls. In the evening we will go for dinner and an overnight stay. 

 

Day 14: Medjugorje

After breakfast we will drive to Medjugorje, the place of the apparitions of Our Lady, the Queen of Peace, which released six children in 1981. We will pray at the wonderful places of the apparitions – Podbrdo Mountain, the Church of St. James, and Cross Mountain. In the evening we return to our hotel accommodation, have dinner and an overnight stay. 

 

Day 15: Medjugorje

After breakfast, we spend the remainder of the day in Medjugorje. Attend Holy Mass. Participation in other ceremonies scheduled for this day. There will be free time for personal prayer. In the evening return for dinner and an overnight stay.

 

Day 16: Split, Trogit

After breakfast we visit Split, a city with a rich history, including the famous Diocletian's Palace, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the best-preserved Roman structures. We'll see the 15th century town hall and the Cathedral of Saint Domnius. Next we go to nearby Trogir, called the "Croatian Venice", which has a unique character, thanks to its Gothic houses, Renaissance palaces, and the distinctive St. Lawrence cathedral. We transfer to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

 

Day 17: Plitvice

After the breakfast we drive to the Plitvice National Park - one of the largest and oldest in Croatia, also registered as a World Heritage Site protected by UNESCO. In the park, over a span of 8 km there are sixteen turquoise lakes situated in terraces and interconnected with countless waterfalls. We will walk this scenic route. In the evening, we arrive at a hotel in the Zagreb area, where we will have dinner and an overnight stay.

 

Day 18: Zagreb

After breakfast, we will have a short walk through Zagreb. We will see the remains of the ramparts and towers, as well as the famous Cathedral of St. Stefan. Afterwards will be a sightseeing drive to Prague. In the night we will get to the hotel where we will have dinner and an overnight stay.

 

Day 18: Prague

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport in Prague. Farewell with our Polish tour leader. Check-in and departure.