Day 1 Depart the U.S.
for either Krakow or Katowice, Poland.
Day 2 Upon arrival, travel to
Krakow and the Holiday Inn. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure.
This evening, gather with fellow travelers to enjoy a
welcome reception and dinner. (R,D)
Day 3 Explore the Old Town, famous
for the largest medieval market square on the continent.
Stroll through the 16th-century Renaissance Cloth Hall,
the world's oldest shopping mall. Gaze at the Gothic Church
of St. Mary of the Assumption, renowned for the hourly
bugle call from its tower. Explore the 15th-century Collegium
Maius, the oldest college of Jagiellonian University.
Then, visit the Royal Cathedral and courtyard of hilltop
Wawel Castle. Enjoy lunch, featuring local specialties
served at a restaurant in Krakow, followed by a free afternoon.
(B,L,D)
Day 4 Explore one of Europe's
most beautiful nature reserves, Ojców National Park. Or,
opt to tour Auschwitz. Established by the Nazis in 1940,
the camps now serve as a poignant monument to 1.5 million
Holocaust victims. Tonight, dine at a local restaurant
as you revel in a lively folkloric show. (B,L,D)
Day 5 Learn about Wieliczka,
Europe's oldest salt mine, begun in the 11th century.
Tour 30 chambers and marvel at 23-foot-deep subterranean
lakes and grottoes full of crystalline salt carvings.
Delight in the impressive Chapel of St. Kinga, with its
altarpieces, chandeliers and sculptures. Spend the afternoon
at leisure. (B)
Day 6 Depart Krakow and travel
to Warsaw. En route through the rolling hills of Malopolska,
stop in Czestochowa and relish in the region that is dotted
with picturesque towns, ruined castles and wooden churches.
Tour the Monastery of Jasna Góra and see the most important
icon in Poland, the Black Madonna. Painted in approximately
1434 on top of an older Byzantine icon, the statue was
later crowned the Queen of Poland by King John Casimir.
Upon arrival in Warsaw, check into the Sofitel Victoria
Warsaw. (B,L,D)
Day 7 Discover Warsaw, the capital
of Poland that has undergone a transformation that beautifully
restored its many architectural splendors. Admire Zamek
Królewski, the stately Royal Castle and the Copernicus
Monument, in the captivating 13th-century Stare Miasto.
Follow the colorful façades of Gothic, Renaissance and
baroque palaces and churches of the Royal Route to the
Chopin Memorial. Explore the Madame Curie House, the Jewish
district, the Monument of the Warsaw Uprising and the
Warsaw Ghetto Memorial. Then, tour Nowe Miasto, including
Solidarity Avenue. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
(B,D)
Day 8 Visit Torun, the birthplace
of Copernicus, which was once a wealthy trading center
due to its position on the Vistula River. Now it showcases
such historic treasures as a vibrant Old Town Square,
the Copernicus House Museum, Crooked Tower and Town Hall.
Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (R,B,L,D)
Day 9 Transfer to the Warsaw airport for the
return flight to the U.S. (B)
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