IN THE CIRCLE OF GREAT MUSIC AND ARCHITECTURE

 

DAY 1 [D] WARSAW

Upon arrival in Warsaw we start with the Polish capital sightseeing. Our tour will take us through the Old Town and the beautifully restored Market Square. You also see the Barbican, the Chopin Monument and visit the Wilanów Palace as well as the nearby Poster Museum presenting an exhibition of the history of the Polish poster. It is the only institution of its kind in Poland and probably one of the few in the world. The exhibits are changed regularly, presenting also the posters of world famous artists.
Evening transfer to one of the restaurants beautifully located in the Old Town area.

DAY 2 [B, D] WARSAW

We continue our tour of Warsaw and start the day with a visit to the Ujazdów Palace built in 1620s. See the Center of the Contemporary Art presenting new avant-garde trends in today’s Polish art. Afternoon guided visit to the Royal Castle, the residence of first Polish Parliament. Most of its 300 rooms can be visited. All are furnished and decorated as it was ages ago, presenting the Canaletto Room with 23 paintings of Bernardo Bellotto, the magnificent Knight’s Hall with six large paintings by Marcello Bacciarelli and the largest and most impressive of all the chambers – the Ballroom. Time free for leisure.
In the evening a folklore dinner with traditional Polish dances and music.

DAY 3 [B, D]
WARSAW – ZELAZOWA WOLA – TUŁOWICE – LODZ

Escapade through Mazovia region. Excursion to Zelazowa Wola, the birthplace of Frederic Chopin. The tranquillity and charm of the old traditional manor house of the Chopin’s family, now a museum, as well as the park around adorned by over a 100 speciments of plants donated by different countries, make for a pleasant stop.
Continue to the beautiful Polish Classicist manor house of Tulowice, the first private object in Poland ever given the most prestige award in the field of historical monuments protecting – the Europa Nostra medal. Andrzej Novak-Zemplinski, bought the manor in 1980, after three years of negotiation with the state authorities. The nobleman’s manor is a typically Polish landed proprietor’s residence, unknown in any other country. Here, national and patriotic traditions were carefully cultivated during difficult time for the nation. The rebuilding of Tulowice Manor took nineteen years. In 1998 it received a prize from the Polish Minister of Culture and Art for the best preserved historical object. Andrzej Novak Zemplinski, is also one of the finest horse painters in the world. His paintings may be found in the art collections of many famous horse breeders, artists, politicians and business people in England, Germany, France or multi millioners such as Armand Hammer in USA.
Arrival in Lódź. Accommodation at your hotel.

DAY 4 [B, D] LODZ

Tour of the city famous for the Polish-German-Jewish tradition, a short visit to the Museum of Art. The museum houses a great collection of 20th century Polish and international paintings, graphics, sculpture and drawings. There are works by Picasso, Chagall and Max Ernst.
You should also not omit the Historical Museum located in the Palace of the Poznański family with the beautiful dining hall. There is also the exhibition devoted to Artur Rubinstein, a great pianist of Jewish origin.
Dinner will be served at a local restaurant.

DAY 5 [B, D]
LODZ – OZAROW – WROCLAW

Departure for the capital of the Silesia region – Wrocław. En route stop in Ożarow to visit the Museum of Manor Interiors where you will see interesting exhibition of manor furniture from the 18th and 19th century. All the rooms are designed as it was two centuries ago, and you have a feeling like you just came to visit the owner, who left for few minutes to the surrounding park. It has a unique atmosphere and is an unforgettable visit.
You can have tea and cake in the beautiful dining room.
Upon afternoon arrival in Wroclaw we start an afternoon city tour including the Old Town famous for its Gothic Town Hall and Gothic Cathedral. Visit to the Wrocław University to see the magnificent Aula Leopoldinum from 18th century. Visit the „Racławicka Panorama” presenting an enormous painting of the Racławice Battle.
Overnight and dinner at one of the Old Town restaurants.

DAY 6 [B, D] WROCLAW – KSIAZ – WROCLAW

A morning visit to the National Museum presenting a rich collection of the post World War II art. The collection exhibits all works of the post war main Polish artists. Visit to the Historical Museum with its magnificent Knights’ Hall with the original decorations from the end of the 15th century and the originally chapel at the Princess’ Room. Afterwards, visit to the Avangards Art Gallery which houses the temporary exhibitions of modern art.
Continue your drive to Ksiaz and visit amazing structure of Ksiaz Castle, perched on top of a huge hill.
Its 400 chambers make it the biggest castle in Silesia and the third largest in the country.
The castle is beautifully surrounded by terrace gardens.
Dinner at the castle’s restaurant and drive back to Wrocław for overnight.

DAY 7 [B, D] WROCŁAW – PSZCZYNA – CRACOW

Departure to Cracow.
En route stop in Pszczyna to admire one of the most precious monuments, the Pszczyna Castle. Once a fortified castle, later converted into a fine residence with three wings. Although over the centuries it has lost its defensive character, the mansion has been referred to as a castle throughout its existance. The castle preserved its previous form until 1734 and afterwards, rebuilt in a Baroque style by the owners von Pless family. After the World War II the castle has been turned into a museum of residential interiors, depicting their history and development from the Renaissance to the late 19th century. This was made possible thanks to the surviving furniture, paintings, etc. The collection was augmented by pieces brought from other Silesian castles ruined during the war.
The understanding and appreciation of the art of that period, the preservation of a major part of the historical furnishings [furnitue, paintings, sculptures, china, hunting trophies].
Arrival in Cracow and accommodation at your hotel.
Dinner at the historical Wierzynek restaurant located in the Old Town.

DAY 8 [B, D] CRACOW

A morning city tour including the Wawel Royal Castle and its fine Flemish tapestry.
Admire a great Wit Stwosz altar at the St. Mary’s church and the Old Market Square.
Visit to Collegium Maius with its historic interiors and rare 16th century astronomic instruments probably used by Copernicus. You should also see the oldest existing globe with the American continent marked on it.
Afternoon drive to Wieliczka Salt Mine. Admire the unique underground world of salt with its beautiful salt lakes, galleries and chapels created by many generations of Polish miners.
Dinner in one of the chambers with Miners’ Band entertainment will remain unforgettable.
Drive back to Cracow for overnight.

DAY 9 [B, D] CRACOW

A morning tour of Cracow’s galleries including visit to the Gallery of 20th century Polish Painting. It presents an interesting collection of Polish paintings dated from 1890 till present days. Afterwards, visit to Wyspiański Museum. You can see the interesting works of this artist, poet and playwright. There is a model made according to his design, an amazing mix of epochs and styles, a Greek amphitheater and a Roman circus, some of his stained-glass designs. Break for cake and coffee at the famous artists’ Jama Michalika coffee shop. The artists have decorated the walls with paintings, drawings, caricatures as well as its stained-glass windows.
Afternoon time for shopping in the Old Town.
Dinner at the Ariel restaurant located in the former Jewish district Kazimierz.
During your meal you will have a chance to listen to klezmer music concert.
Back to your hotel for overnight.

DAY 10 [B, L] CRACOW – LANCUT – SIENIAWA

Departure for Sieniawa. En route stop to Łańcut, the magnificent, aristocratic residence, with one of the most extensive and diverse collections of art. The palace has retained its full grandeur. You can admire historic interiors in the Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical, eclectic and Art Nouveau styles, richly decorated with wall paintings and carving, graceful floors and precious period furniture, sculptures, china etc.
The stable opposite holds over a thousand icons dating from the 15th century on, with some real gems among them. South of the castle there are over 50 old carriages on display. Lancut is famous also for the local distillery, which was founded by Duchess Lubomirska. The Distillery Museum, the only in Poland, has an original document attesting to the distillery’s existence in 1784. The museum exhibits include old machines and equipment for the production of spirits, bottles, glasses for tasting and labels. At present it is one of the leading Polish producers of alcoholic beverages, mainly anise flavored and sweetened vodkas.
Accommodation in Sieniawa Palace, which remembers the times of the Sieniawski and Czartoryski magnates.
The palace was built in the first half of the 18th century and later rebuilt in late-Baroque style. It was visited by Alexander I, the Tsar of Russia, and by General Tadeusz Kosciuszko, Polish and American national hero.

DAY 11 [B, L, D] SIENIAWA – KOZLOWKA – WARSAW

Transfer to Warsaw via Kozlówka to visit a beautiful two-storey Baroque palace complex of the Zamoyski Family. You will see a rich collection of original old furniture, crystal mirrors, ceramics and the permanent exhibition of Socialist Realistic art  featuring paintings and sculptures of such past heroes as Lenin, Stalin, Dzierzynski.
Arrival in Warsaw. Check in and time to refresh. We invite you to two-part Chopin music piano recital, held in a beautiful historic interior of the Palace on the Water, picturesquely located in the Łazienki Garden.
A glass of sparkling wine will be served during a short intermission.
After the recital a farewell dinner at Belvedere Restaurant, with tables among lush, exotic plants, discreet water ripples in the background, birds singing, perfect food and wonderful view over the most beautiful park in Warsaw – the Royal Łazienki Garden.

DAY 12 [B] WARSAW

Morning at leisure and then transfer to the Warsaw airport for your flight back home.