In footsteps of John Paul II

In footsteps of John Paul II

6 days

Kraków - Łagiewniki - Wadowice - Kalwaria Zebrzydowska - Lanckorona - Wieliczka - Częstochowa - Zakopane

DAY 1

Airport transfer to the hotel.

DAY 2

Breakfast. Walking tour of the Old Town Starting with the Wawel hill with an impressive castle and the cathedral. Next we follow the Royal Way to admire the beautiful tenement houses and churches, we reach the Market Square – the largest medieval market place in Europe!  We’ll stop for a while in the Market Square to listen to the bugle call played by a trumpeter from St. Mary’s Church tower. We visit the church with the famous wooden altar Wit Stwosz and the Cloth Hall – a perfect place to buy some souvenirs from Krakow. During the tour you will also visit the university quarter with Collegium Maius – the oldest building of the Jagiellonian University. John Paul II was studying here .

In the afternoon – a walking tour of Kazimierz – the old Jewish quarter. The history of Kazimierz dates back to 1335 when it was founded as an island town by King Kazimierz the Great. During over 500 years it was housing the Krakow’s Jews and became a major European centre for the Diaspora. You’ll feel here the unforgettable and unique atmosphere of this quarter with its synagogues and museums, cafés, restaurants and art galleries. During the tour we’ll visit the Remuh Synagogue and old cemetery.  Dinner with klezmer music concert and overnight.

DAY 3

In the morning – visit to the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Lagiewniki. Saint Faustina Kowalska lived and died here.
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 we will visit the basilica where he was baptized.
Next we travel to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (UNESCO). The sanctuary in Kalwaria (XVII) 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.
The last point of the tour will be Lanckorona – a small, picturesque town with its landmark - steep market square surrounded by wooden arcaded houses of the 19th century. 

In the afternoon - guided tour of the Wieliczka Salt Mine (UNESCO). The mine, one of the oldest in the world, is visited every year by over one million of tourist from all over the world -  20 salt rock chambers with a magnificent St. King’s chapel, underground saline lakes, numerous salt sculptures and impressive timber constructions.
Dinner and overnight in Krakow.

DAY 4

Breakfast. Departure for Czestochowa – the most famous Marian sanctuary and pilgrimage place in Poland, where the miraculous icon of Black Madonna is kept.

In the afternoon we travel to Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum (UNESCO). Located about 70 km from Krakow, this former Nazi concentration camp is one of the best known places of genocide in the world. About 1,3 million people lost their life there. John Paul II visited the former concentration camp during his first pilgrimage (as a Pope) to Poland in 1979.

Dinner and overnight in Krakow.

DAY 5

Breakfast. Full day tour to Podhale Region and Zakopane – the winter capital of Poland. The town is located at the foot of Tatra mountains – the highest mountain range in Poland. This region was beloved by John Paul II and the person of the Pope is commemorated in many places there. We’ll use a funicular to ride up the Gubalowka Mount. Then the tour continues with highlights of Zakopane – the old cemetery, Villa Atma, the Papal Sanctuary of the Holy Virgin of Fatima at Krzeptowki  - built as a votive offering for saving Pope’s life after the assesination attempt in 1981. Next ww'll visit wooden Jaszczurowka Chapel - one of the best examples of the local Zakopane style in arts and architecture.
Krupowki – the most famous street of the town and the best place for souvenirs hunters.

DAY 6

Breakfast. Airport transfer and departure.