Krakow

Meet at the airport and fly to Krakow. Arrival in a jewel of a city, full of Gothic elements and Renaissance architecture. Krakow's fairytale Old Town is full of historic monuments that strike a chord, a rare 700-year-old salt mine and a youthful vibrancy that any European capital would envy. We set off on our tour
of the city. Krakow, the eternal spiritual and religious centre of the country, is synonymous with the history of Poland itself. The first fortress was built on Wawel Hill. The city spread out across the Vistula valley, where universities and churches were built, reflecting the wealth of the medieval kingdoms. Krakow is the main magnet for monument conservators, who come from all over the world to restore and maintain its numerous Renaissance and Neoclassical buildings. Conservation is carried out on every building with scientific precision and at great expense, which is borne by the Polish state together with UNESCO. Wawel Hill, the Gothic cathedral where Polish kings were crowned and buried, the Town Hall Tower, the old Sukiennice Cloth Hall, the great Rynek Główny square and the old Jewish quarter of Kazimierz, which was used for filming the movie “Schindler's List”, are just some of the city's sights that we will see during our tour. Transfer and check-in at the hotel. Free time. Overnight.

After breakfast we begin our day with Auschwitz as our destination. The place where memory and horror meet. The mere sound of its name sends shivers down the spine. More than seventy years after the inmates of this hell were liberated by the Russians, Auschwitz stands as living proof from history that man can commit the most unthinkable atrocities. Today's visit to the horrific concentration camp requires a strong stomach. How else can one ‘digest’ the personal belongings, the shoes and clothes of children (many of whom were infants when they were murdered) and a host of other exhibits that shock and awe the visitor to an unimaginable hell? The museum, which receives more than 1,500,000 visitors a year, serves as a serious warning about the dangers of totalitarianism and fanaticism. In the afternoon we return to Krakow, where we will have free time in the beautiful historic centre of the city.

After breakfast we suggest an excursion to the Chochołów baths, the largest thermal complex in Podhale. The water is drawn from a depth of almost 3,600 metres, and the submerged rocks release beneficial micronutrients such as sulphur, calcium, magnesium and sodium. Relax in one of the 8 hydromassage pools with healing water at a temperature of 36°C. Unwind in the salt cave or the ‘Textile’ sauna, which is ideal for those who do not wish to use the regular steam sauna. In the afternoon, return to the city. (Cost of the optional excursion: €65, entrance tickets included)

After breakfast we will visit the unique Wieliczka salt mines, which have been transformed into an art space. We will have the chance to admire the sculptures and the salt church in the underground chambers of the mine. There is no other salt mine in the world as remarkable and as well preserved in terms of its size, the picturesque character of its tunnels and its old mining equipment. Since 1978 it has been on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites. After our visit and the purchase of salt souvenirs, we will return to Krakow. In the afternoon we will leave for the airport, where we will take our return flight.