1002LH2 - Pilgrimage to Central Europe 10 days from Boston

Today, we depart Boston’s Logan Airport to connect with our overnight flight to Vienna. We enjoy in-flight movies, dinner and breakfast while aloft.

This morning, we arrive in Vienna, where we are met by our Tour Manager and board our motor coach for our orientation tour of Vienna's Ringstrasse. We pass by City Hall, the Burg Theater, Houses of Parliament, two State Museums and the Opera before stopping to visit the Gothic St. Stephen's Cathedral. We enjoy lunch on our own along the route. This afternoon, we proceed to our hotel for some relaxation before our “welcome” dinner and overnight at our hotel.

This morning, following Mass at a parish church near our hotel, we drive to the Hofburg, and see the17th century Capuchin Church containing the impressive Imperial Vaults. We also visit the Schönbrunn Castle with its vast French Park. This afternoon, we break for lunch on our own, then enjoy free time for shopping or personal adventure, before returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Leaving the city and foothills of the Alps, we travel through the Burgenland onto the sweeping Hungarian plain. We stop at Györ, where the Irish Madonna attracts many Pilgrims annually. We celebrate Mass here. We then travel to the famous Danube Bend for a brief stop for lunch on our own, as well as some time to shop and explore the village of Szentendre along the Danube Valley, well known for its artists and artisans. Later, we enjoy a boat ride on the enchanting Danube River. Commentary will include the history of the city’s most important buildings situated along the river. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

This morning we drive to the Royal Castle in Buda, where we visit Fishermen's Bastion and the beautiful Gothic St. Matthias Church. Afterwards, we continue to the Citadel, where we enjoy the best view over the Danube and the lower city of Pest. We then cross the Elizabeth Bridge to the Market Hall and the pedestrian center, where we enjoy lunch on our own. In the afternoon, we drive through the City Park to Hero's Square, then past the Opera and Parliament. We conclude our day with a visit and Mass at St. Stephen's Basilica. This evening, we enjoy a special dinner at the Gypsy Tavern with folkloric entertainment. Overnight at our hotel.

Today, following Mass near our hotel we head north out of Budapest. We cross the border into Slovakia by way of Banska Bystrica,and cross the Lower Tatra Mountains to reach the border. We enter Poland through the industrious southern region, arriving in Krakow in time for dinner and overnight at our hotel.

This morning we celebrate Mass at the Church of St. Florian, where Pope St. John Paul II served as a curate, and where he lived while a university chaplain. Afterwards, we meet our local guide and begin our sightseeing tour. Our first stop is the courtyard of 16th century Royal Castle, and Wawel Cathedral, where generations of Polish Kings are buried. We enjoy a walking tour of Old Town, visiting some of the treasures of this wonderful old city. We view the Town Hall Tower and the Cloth Hall, located on the same site since the 14th century, the 15th century Collegium Maius, in the oldest university area, and St. Mary's Church. Here we enjoy the ancient tradition of the "Hejnal" or bugle call from the Tower, which warned residents of the coming of an enemy. After some free time for lunch on our own, we depart Krakow and travel to the infamous Auschwitz Concentration Camp with its Martyrdom Museum. Pope St. John Paul II visited the cell of St. Maximillian Kolbe at Auschwitz in June 1979 on his first visit to Poland after becoming Pope. Finally, on the way back, we visit the newly built Basilica of the Divine Mercy, the home of St. Sister Faustina. We see the convent and visit with the Sisters there. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

After breakfast we depart Krakow and travel to Wadowice, the birthplace of Pope St. John Paul II. En-route, we pass the Kalwaria Zebrzydowska Benedictine Monastery, where the he often prayed and walked the Stations of the Cross. In Wadowice, we celebrate Mass in the parish church where the Holy Father was baptized. Afterwards, we visit the museum in his small family home. We continue to Prague for dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Following breakfast, we begin our tour of Prague at Castle Hill and visit St. Vitus Cathedral, Wladislav Hall and Golden Lane. We also visit the famous Infant Jesus of Prague at the Church of Our Lady of Victory, where we celebrate Mass. We break for lunch on our own before our afternoon tour of Prague, including the Old Town with Astronomical clock, Jewish Quarter and Charles Bridge. We return to our hotel for our “farewell” dinner and overnight.

This morning we transfer to the airport in Prague to board our flight to the USA arriving later today with memories of a lifetime.