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 Italy
apart, Poland is the only country boasting so many prominent
Renaissance monuments.The Italian architects, craftsmen and
painters such as Domenico Merlini, Bernardo Morando, Bartolomeo
Berrecci, Giovanni Mosca and Canaletti left in Poland pure
examples of Renaissance style not to be found elsewhere in
Europe.
Day 1. Warsaw
Arrival in Warsaw. Check in. Lunch and guided tour of
the old town . In the afternoon, relaxing walk in the
"Lazienki Park" with the royal residence of the last Polish
king August Poniatowski. Next, a welcome private Chopin
recital. A top pianist will execute the world-wide known
Polonaises and Mazurkas. A glass of champagne will be served
in the interval. Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 2. Warsaw - Kazimierz (120 km)
In the morning, visit the Wilanow Palace, a former
residence of the King Jan III Sobieski, housing a rich collection
of paintings, some of them by Italian Renaissance masters.
Lunch at a local restaurant. Departure for Kazimierz.
Check in at hotel. Visit the town's market square. Picturesquely
located on the hills and the bank of Vistula river, Kazimierz
is a major tourist venue in Poland. The market square, with
the wealthy grain merchants' houses decorated with Renaissance
statues and ornaments is a unique combination of styles: late-Gothic,
Renaissance and Mannerism. Visit the Renaissance granaries
beautifully located along the banks of Vistua. Dinner.
Day 3. Kazimierz - Zamość (140 km)
Drive to Lublin. Guided tour of the old town. See
the Renaissance houses, town hall and the Castle Chapel
with the unique medieval frescoes. Lunch in the old town.
Further drive to Zamość. The town of Zamość was founded
in XVIth century by a Polish Renaissance man, chancellor Jan
Zamoyski, who wished to build a perfect town. Zamość was designed
as an ideal town-fortress and built by the Italian architect
Bernardo Morando. Now Zamość is regarded as a perfect example
of Renaissance architecture with open space, arcades, decorated
facades and large walkways. The market square is dominated
by a magnificent Town Hall. Visit the parish church designed
by Morando and modelled on Italian churches' interiors. Dinner
at hotel.
Day 4. Zamość - Krasiczyn (140 km)
Visit the nearby majestic baroque Zamość castle erected
in XVIe century by Morando, two centuries later reconstructed
in the Baroque style. Visit the interiors of the palace with
the paintings collection. Lunch at the palace restaurant.
Arrival in Krasiczyn in the afternoon. Check in at
the castle hotel. Krasiczyn Castle was built in the XVIth
century for Krasicki Family by Italian architect Gallazzo
Appiani. The castle is a pearl of Renaissance architecture
in Poland. Dinner and night tour by torch-light through the
castle's interiors, caves and crypts.
Day 5. Krasiczyn - Łańcut - Kraków (240 km)
Morning drive to Kraków via Łańcut. Visit the famous
Łańcut castle belonging the world largest castle palace
complexes. The castle was built in XVIIth century in early
Baroque style, conceived as the palazzo in fortezza. Guided
tour through the palace rooms with art collections and the
Carriage Museum including more then 50 horse-drawn
carriages. Lunch at the palace restaurant . Departure for
Kraków with stop for a cup of coffee in the Tarnów's medieval
Old Town. Visit the Gothic Cathedral with the Renaissance
tombs made by Giovanni Maria Mosca. Arrival in Kraków
for dinner & overnight.
Day 6. Kraków
Sightseeing tour of the Old Town including The
Royal Way with its monuments. Visit the St Mary's church
with the majestic, wooden altar carved by Veit Stoss, and
the Medieval cloth halls in the heart of the main square.
Tour ends on the Wawel Hill with a guided visit to
Royal Castle and Royal Cathedral with the Sigismund
Chapel designed and built by the Italian architects Bartolomeo
Berrecci and Giovanni Maria Mosca. The Sigismund Chapel
is regarded as the most prominent example of Renaissance architecture
in Central Europe. Lunch. Visit the Czartoryski Museum
housing a rich collection of European paintings with Leonardo
da Vinci's "Lady with an Ermine". Dinner.
Day 7. Kraków
An excursion to the nearby salt mine in Wieliczka
with the underground world of chambers, corridors, chapels
and statues carved in salt by generations of miners - a unique
tourist attraction in the world. Lunch. Afternoon at your
leisure. In the evening farewell dinner with Renaissance
music ensemble.
Day 8. Kraków
Departure
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