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In the footsteps of Karol Wojtyla
- Holy Father John Paul II
(program proposal)
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POLAND
Roman-Catholic sanctuaries are the Poland's landmark. The majority of pilgrims flock to the Pauline Monastery on Jasna Gora in Czestochowa. Here is the blessed icon of the Black Madonna, venerated both in Poland and abroad. There is also a new destination in Lichen, and other still not discovered by pilgrims from abroad, which are worth seeing.With this program we want to present to you the most interesting pilgrimage sites in Poland.
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John Paul II (1920-2005) one of the greatest man in the history of 20th century. Karol Wojtyla was born in small town Wadowice and became Pope John Paul II in 1978. John Paul's influence was felt far beyond the Vatican. In 1979, his first visit to his homeland as Pope was a major catalyst for the collapse of communism in Poland. The visit was a harbinger of events that would bring down communist regimes across the Soviet Bloc. John Paul II was the most traveled pope in history, visiting more than 120 countries during his 26-year papacy, nearly every country in the world which would receive him.
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DAY 1
 WARSAW
Group's arrival in Warsaw.
Meet your guide at the airport and transfer to your hotel.
Welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
DAY 2
WARSAW
Celebrate mass at St. Stanislaw Kostka Church.
Next, join a local expert on a guided city tour exploring Warsaw's hidden treasures. You begin with a visit to the Old Town which was rebuilt after WW II followed by the Warsaw Jewish Ghetto, dedicated to the victims of Nazi brutality. Later, visit the beautiful Market Square, the Barbican and medieval defense walls and Lazienki Park with its elegant sculpture of Frederic Chopin.
DAY 3
 WARSAW - SWINICE WARCKIE - CZESTOCHOWA
Morning departure for Czestochowa. Drive to Swinice Warckie to visit St. Casmir church. This is the parish that St. Faustina was baptized Helen Kowalska. Your journey continues to Czestochowa, home to Poland's greatest pilgrimage shrine, Our Lady of Czestochowa. Our next stop is Jasna Gora Monastery, home of the Black Madonna. The monastery's pilgrimage tradition dates back to the 14th centuryand was frequently visited by Pope John Paull II. After arrival check-in at your hotel and dinner.
DAY 4
CZESTOCHOWA - ZAKOPANE
Morning visit to Jasna Gora Monastery to see the famous Black Madonna Picture and the Treasury Room with impressive collection of precious gifts given to the monastery throughout the ages.
We would also like to pay your attention to a very interesting Way of Cross painted by one of the most famous Polish artists Jerzy Duda-Gracz, a touching presentation of last moments of Jesus set in the most important historic moments of Poland.
Continue your drive to Zakopane, a picturesque village set in the Tatra Mountains.
It is the most popular resort in Poland and one of the most beautiful places owing to its picturesque location and find spa architecture which blends in with the natural landscape and involves characteristic elements of the local building. Once a small mountain village Zakopane because at the beginning of the 20th century a fashionable and popular resort for with artists, writers and musicians. You will see many beautiful wooden churches, each of them with its own history.
After arrival dinner at the typical highlander's inn.
DAY 5
 ZAKOPANE - KALWARIA ZEBRZYDOWSKA - WADOWICE - KRAKOW
This morning, is at leisure to relax or explore the charming town center.
Departure for Cracow. En route visit to the Kalwaria Zebrzydowska that is lying among the colourful hills of the Wadowice Upland. From far away you may see the monastery complex of the Bernardine Father with the early baroque church of the Angelic Mother of God. South of the monastery, on the area of 300 hectares are located the famous Calvary paths, with churches, chapels and wayside shrines which location in the terrain imitates the topography of Jerusalem. Most of chapels were designed by the Flemish artist Paul Baudarth and are the only examples (except of Gdansk) of the Dutch renaissance style in Poland. The Jerusalem service conducted in natural scenery has attracted thousands of pilgrims from the very beginning. The brotherhood was founded in 1613. As early as 1658 the picture of the Mother of God with Child (also called the Weeping Madonna) was recognised by Church authorities as "famous for miracles". As the present Pope John Paul II was born in Wadowice close to the Kalwaria, he often walked the Calvary paths and prayed before the marvellous picture of the Zebrzydowska Mother of God. In respect to the number of pilgrims Kalwaria Zebrzydowska is the second most popular sanctuary in Poland. Mass at Kalwaria Zebrzydowska Sanctuary. Meeting the priest from the Kalwaria Zebrzydowska Sanctuary. Guest will be able to see as well the small model of the whole Kalwaria Zebrzydowska.
Drive to Wadowice, the birthplace of Pope John Paul II to see his house and the Wadowice Basilica. Continue to Krakow. Your day comes to an end in the magnificent city of Krakow.
DAY 6
 KRAKOW - AUSCHWITZ - KRAKOW
Celebrate mass before we begin our tour of this amazing city.
Visit Krakow in the footsteps of Holy Father John Paul II. With so many places connected with John Paul II, such as the Bishop's Palace where Karol Wojty³a used to live, St. Florian's Church where he was a vicar, or the beautiful Franciscan Church - his favourite praying place. Franciszkanska Street with the famous Pope's window where John Paul II used to show up to talk with Cracovians during his pilgrimages to Poland. Collegium Novum, the main building of Jagiellonian University, where after WW II Karol Wojtyla lectured in theology; Archbishop's Palace, which was his home for a number of years.
We will visit Market Square, one of the largest and best preserved areas in all of Europe. The area around the square has remained unchanged for almost 700 years and contains the largest grouping of churches in the city centre in all of Europe. A local expert provides a leisurely paced walking tour featuring St. Mary's Altar, the largest gothic altar in the world, Wawel Cathedral, the Town Hall Tower, the Cloth Hall and the burgher's houses. Explore the Coronation Chapel and the Royal Chambers, home to an extraordinary collection of Arras tapestries is on display. In the afternoon we travel to Auschwitz, the notorious Nazi concentration camp, the biggest factory of death in the history of humanity and a silent witness to human tragedy. We will see the cell that imprisoned St Maximillian Kolbe and the Martyrdom Museum recalling the horrors of the Holocaust.
DAY 7
 KRAKOW - WARSAW
Today we depart for the capital of the Divine Mercy, the city of Lagiewniki. It was at Lagiewniki that the message of the Divine Mercy was passed on to St. Faustina. This message from Christ was passed through St. Faustina serving as the medium. We will visit the Sanctuary that houses the image of Merciful Jesus and the relics of St. Faustina. We will also visit St. Faustina's convent chapel, the Shrine of Divine Mercy and St. Faustina's Tomb. (B, D)
DAY 8
KRAKOW - LOWICZ - WARSAW
Attend the early morning Mass before returning to Warsaw. Enjoy the remainder of the day to explore Warsaw's hidden treasures or do some last minute shopping. Depature for Warsaw. En route we invite you to Lowicz, a lovely town of Mazovia region famous for its art and craft. You will be welcomed by a young married couple at their charming wooden house set by the ruins of the Lowicz castle. Enjoy your home-hosted farewell dinner and have a unique opportunity to speak with local people about their day-by-day life and taste a typical Polish dishes. You will also have a chance to see the presentation of colorful paper cut-outs. We might be able also to arrange a meeting with local priest and have a tour of the beautiful Lowicz basilica.
DAY 9
WARSAW
After breakfast departure transfer to the airport. |
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GENERAL TERMS & CONDITIONS
1-800-216-9316