Treasures of Poland

Check into your hotel.

Drive along the beautifully renovated Royal Route with its historical monuments and residences. Stop at Castle Square for a short walk through Old Town before dinner.

This morning, we introduce you to the highlights of Warsaw. A half-day sightseeing tour includes Old Town, beautifully rebuilt after World War II, with the impressive Royal Castle, seat of the kings of Poland. Here the Constitution of May 3rd was proclaimed in 1791, the second oldest constitution, after the US Constitution, in the world. You will admire some of its 300 rooms and see the Canaletto Room with 23 of his paintings, the Throne Room, the magnificent Knight’s Hall with six large paintings by Marcello Bacciarelli, the Marble room with its 22 portraits of Polish kings and the largest and most impressive of all the castle’s chambers, the Ballroom. Continue our tour with a drive to the area of the former Warsaw Ghetto. En route, you will see the building of the National Opera House and Town Hall.

Also during your tour of Warsaw we will invite you to the famous Warsaw chocolate factory “Wedel” to taste the delicious hot chocolate at the “ Wedel Old Fashioned Shop”.

This evening you will take an unforgettable musical journey through the world famous compositions of our greatest composer, Frederic Chopin, at a two-part piano recital.

After breakfast, depart for Zakopane – one of the most popular vacation resorts in the Tatra Mountains. En route, stop in Czestochowa to visit the Jasna Gora Monastery and the Black Madonna Shrine with its miraculous icon. Lunch will be served a local restaurant. In the evening we arrive in Zakopane beautifully situated at the foot of the Tatra Mountains, in the valley between Gubalowka and Giewont.

It is the most popular resort in Poland and one of the most beautiful places in all of Poland, owing to its picturesque location. Once, a small mountain village, Zakopane became a fashionable artist’s retreat at the beginning of the 20th century

In the morning, have a sightseeing tour of Zakopane, whose wooden architecture blends with the natural landscapes and it is copied in other parts of Poland and is known as Zakopianski Style. You will visit the Jaszczurowka Chapel, a great example of the wooden architecture in Zakopane, and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima at Krzeptowki, which was built by the people of Zakopane to thank the Lady of Fatima for saving the Pope after an attempt on His life. Admire the breathtaking views of the Tatras from the top of Gubalowka* Mountain* and shop for souvenirs of arts and crafts of the

Highlanders (Gorale) in the local shops. After lunch on your own you will have a free time.

Before continuing on to Krakow, take a spectacular rafting trip on the Dunajec River in Pieniny National Park.

The morning sightseeing tour will feature Wawel, the Royal Castle, home to three dynasties of Poland’s monarchs. Its stately halls and exquisite chambers are filled with priceless art, valuable period furniture and rare ancient objects. The collection of monumental 16th century tapestries is matchless. You will also visit the Wawel Cathedral, the place of the cult of St. Stanislaw and St. Jadwiga, Queen of Poland. Its 18 chapels are true architectural masterpieces. The giant bell, Zygmunt from 1520 ranks with the world’s largest. This is the place where Polish kings were crowned and buried. Following Wawel we walk to Old Town with its restored Main Square of magnificent houses and palaces. There, you stop at St. Mary’s Basilica where to see the magnificent wooden altar by Wit Stwosz.

In the middle of the square is Cloth Hall built before 1349, but renovated in the 16th century with many shopping stalls inside.

After lunch on your own, drive to Auschwitz to visit the Martyrdom Museum of the former Nazi concentration camp, the infamous factory of death

In the morning time on your own.

Coffee and cake at the famous Krakow caféteria and a visit to Czartoryski Museum that presents most valuable art collection in Poland, and one of the most valuable in Europe. “The Lady with an Ermine” by Leonardo da Vinci or the “Landscape with the Good.

Samaritan” by Rembrandt van Rijn, as well as many other masterpieces of not only painting, but also sculpture, crafts, military, applied arts are presented in the renovated interiors of the museum.

After breakfast, leave for Torun.

On the way, stop in Lowicz, a typical Mazovian town famous for folk art: colorful costumes and beautiful paper cut-outs. You will be invited for a home-hosted lunch by a local family, whose charming cottage is located at the foot of the former Lowicz Castle. You will be welcomed in a typical Polish way, with bread & salt, and enjoy your meal served by the young married couple in their lovely house.

You will have time to talk about their day to day life and have your dessert in a beautiful garden.

Continue to Torun, where the balance of the day is at leisure

In the morning, see the highlights of Torun. It is the birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus and considered one of the most magnificent historic cities of Poland. Its Old Town has been included in UNESCO’s list for its impressive 13th century Town Hall, superb churches and historic streets preserving Torun’s past glory. A visit to Copernicus Museum. Time for lunch on your own.

In the afternoon, drive to Gdansk. Upon arrival, take a brief walk through the town’s Old Town.

Today, tour Gdansk in depth. Start from the Upland Gate – a fragment of the city’s former fortifications and one of its main gates. Just behind it, we pass by a baked-brick construction consisting of the Prison Tower and the Torture House – relics of the 15th century Gothic defense walls. The Golden Gate, situated next to the Prison Tower, opens onto Long Market – a magnificent street, with grand mansions decorated with late Renaissance and Baroque facades. A real feast for the eyes!!! It is here that the richest burghers of Gdansk once lived. Next, come upon the Main Town and the Artus Court – a building used for Hanseatic League meetings. It is renowned as the most beautiful court among all of Europe’s Hanseatic cities. Just behind it stands the tower of St. Mary’s Basilica, a part of the most precious and largest red-brick Gothic church in Gdansk. On our way back we pass by Mariacka Street, with its gabled terraced houses and elegant boutiques.

The balance of the day is free to give you time for shopping Baltic arts and crafts, including unique amber jewelry and trinkets.

Visit Oliwa Cathedral famous for one-of-a-kind pipe organ, to enjoy a concert.

In the afternoon we drive for Warsaw.

Breakfast at the hotel.

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