MARCH 25TH IN POLAND - 6 DAYS

Morning arrival in the capital of Poland. The old city of Warsaw is surrounded by fortifications and, of course, is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Here we will see the Market Square, the Royal Palace, the Castle Square Plac Zamkowy, one of the few places that survived the Nazi devastation, the monumental Palace of Culture and Science, a gift from Stalin to Warsaw, as well as the Wielki Theater that houses the Opera and Ballet. Next stop is the city's Jewish Ghetto with the monument to Martyrs of Nazi atrocities and the modern museum of Jewish History.

Passing a series of major avenues and passing through the post-Stalin modern city center, we will be led to Castle Square. The enjoyable route, known as the "mile", will bring us to the most important monuments and the most beautiful buildings of Warsaw. Among those that stand out are the Church of St. Anne and the Holy Cross, the Carmelite Church, the Presidential Palace, the Kazimierz Palace, the historic and luxurious Bristol Hotel, the National Library, the impressive University building and the Warsaw Castle, while a little further on we will approach the house of the pioneering scientist and Nobel laureate, Maria Kozlówka Curie. Check-in at the hotel and afternoon at leisure. Flowering gardens, monuments dedicated to ancient and modern gods of art, fountains, lakes, amphitheaters, paths and bridges. Spread over 760 acres of green land, Lazienski Park is the best place to listen to the cultural legacy of a city that was reborn from its ashes. Among the attractions of the famous park, we highlight the Chopin monument, around which musical events are regularly organized.

Take advantage of the free morning for another wander around the Polish capital, depending on your personal interests. Today's road trip will take us in the afternoon to the Silesian region. One needs to visit Wrocław to understand why it is one of the most beloved destinations in Poland. Elves, dwarves, legends and beliefs give Wrocław an atmosphere filled with Gothic mystery.

The fairy-tale city that stands on the Odra River is a favorite destination in the country and not by chance, since it is an ode to Gothic architecture, and it was also the European Capital of Culture for 2016. Even if you are not a fan of Gothic, you will love the landscape as it is set by bridges, green parks and street art. Starting the tour from Piasek Island on the Odra River, we will continue to the large central square of Rynek with the guild buildings as well as the beautiful Old Town Hall. The famous Hala Silesia, the work of the famous architect Max Berg, is recommended for Instagram shots. We complete our tour of the city with the Church of St. Elizabeth, with its towering Gothic tower. Afternoon free.

Just hearing the name sends shivers of shuddering fear. More than seventy years after the liberation of the inmates of the hell by the Russians, Auschwitz is living proof of history that man can commit the most unimaginable atrocities. Today's visit to the horrific concentration camp requires a strong stomach. How else can one "metabolize" the personal belongings, the shoes and clothes of children (many of whom were infants when they were murdered) as well as a host of other exhibits that create shock and awe in the visitor of an unimaginable hell? The museum, which receives more than 1,500,000 visitors annually, functions as a serious warning about the dangers of totalitarianism and fanaticism.

Arrival in the afternoon at our hotel in Krakow, where we will stay for 2 nights. Krakow stands out untouched by the devastation of World War II with an exemplary historical center. At the same time, it remains one of the largest cultural, artistic and tourist centers in Europe.

Palaces, churches, mansions. Among the Baroque and Gothic buildings that dominate the city, Krakow demonstrates to its visitor an unparalleled Renaissance status. The wealth of colors, stained glass windows, paintings, sculptures, and even furnishings testify to the certainty of its aristocratic origins. The Jewish neighborhood of Kazimierz, with its seven synagogues, the impressive Royal Castle on Wawel Hill, the "heavy" Cathedral with the Royal Tombs of the Polish Monarchs and the Bell, the Jagiellonian University and the largest medieval square in Europe are points of reference in our morning tour of the beautiful city. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the Mariacki Church (also known as the Basilica of the Virgin Mary) is the church where the now-canonized Pope John Paul II served as a long-time vicar, while every hour, from the church's bell tower, a trumpeter spreads the melody of the trumpet throughout the square. In its center, the Renaissance-style Sukiennice building dominates, once a reference point for the textile trade. Afternoon free for coffee, food, drinks and aimless urban wanderings in a city that will reward you with its smells, tastes and cinematic aura.

15 km from the city center are the famous Wieliczka Salt Mines, which we will visit next. Here we will also see the strange chapel in honor of the Blessed Kinga, patron saint of miners. The “salt-carved” church has been carved entirely by the salt miners themselves, who even made the chandeliers from salt crystals! Having completed a journey full of fascinating images, we are transferred to the Krakow airport in the afternoon, carrying souvenirs in our luggage and the wonderful feeling that we have seen and done it all.