Monuments and sanctuaries of Cracow and its surroundings - 5 days
Sightseeing, attending worships, relaxing
We are going to visit four places from the UNESCO list. Two of them, the Old Town in Cracow and the Wieliczka Salt Mine, entered the List of the World Heritage in 1978, that is, they were among the first 12 sites chosen for the Unesco List.
Additionally, many places on this itinerary are related to the life and activity of St. John Paul II, St. Sr. Faustina as well as the idea of the Divine Mercy.
Day 1
Arrival at Cracow, stroll through the streets of the Old Town.
Day 2
Cracow - Kazimierz Jewish District
Following the footsteps of John Paul II you can see most important monuments of the Old Town including: the Main Square with St. Marry’s Basilica housing the spectacular altar by Wit Stwosz, the Cloth Hall, Florianska Gate, St Florian’s Basilica, the Cracow Bishops’ Palace, St. Francis of Assisi Basilica, St. Joseph’s Church, St. Anne’s Collegiate Church, the Alma Mater of Karol Wojtyła - the Jagiellonian University with its oldest part - Collegium Maius.
Tour of the famous Wawel Hill with the Royal Castle and its Cathedral. It is a place of the most outstanding historical and cultural value which has become one of the most popular museums.
The castle used to be the place of reign of the kings of Poland. The crypt of the Cathedral holds the tombs of Polish kings, princes and national heroes.
Tour of Kazimierz Jewish District- which is one of the greatest tourist attractions, a place where Christian and Jewish cultures overlapped and coexisted peacefully for many years. A walk around the district will show you most famous synagogues (the Old Synagogue, The Remuh Synagogue, the Isaak’s Synagogue).
Day 3
Auschwitz–Birkenau – Wadowice- Kalwaria Zebrzydowska
Tour of the biggest Nazi concentration camp during World War II, the place of extermination of about 1.5 million people from 28 countries including about 1 million Jews. The site is on the Unesco list.
You will visit Wadowice, the hometown of Karol Wojtyła, the former Pope John Paul II.
Tour of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, one of the most outstanding pilgrimage centers in Poland (included on the Unesco list).
Day 4
Wieliczka Salt Mine – Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy – The John Paul II Centre
Tour of the Wieliczka Salt Mine, which houses 2000 chambers hollowed in solid rock, many of them beautifully ornamented. St. Kinga’s Chapel is the most impressive of all. A tourist route is 3.5 km and it takes 3 hours (included on the Unesco list).
The tour will take you to the ”Don’t be afraid” John Paul II Center, richly ornamented with Marko Rupnik’s mosaics, which is located near the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy. At 3 p.m. the Chaplet to the Divine Mercy in the Sanctuary.
Day 5
After the breakfast visit to the Benedictine Abbey located in Tyniec, near Cracow. The Abbey is the oldest existing monastery in Poland, history of which spans over one thousand years. Transfer to the Cracow airport.