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Featuring the 200th anniversary of Chopin’s birth and including outstanding music festivals: 
“Chopin and his Europe”
and “Music in Old Krakow”

Chopin and his Europe
The main goal of the Festival “Chopin and his Europe” is to promote Polish culture in Europe through Chopin’s music. Beside his compositions you can listen to other composers who have had an influence to Chopin’s work and was his inspiration. The festival is a part of the special government program called “Chopin’s Heritage 2010”.

Music in Old Krakow
One of the oldest music festivals in Krakow. The festival is always held at the same time and it has already become a tradition for its symphonic and chamber concerts, recitals held not only in concert halls, churches but also in other numerous historical interiors, and even in the courtyards and City squares. Crowds of music lovers are attracted to the great works of classics (Bach,
Mozart, Beethoven to mention a few) which are always in the program of the event.

Day 1: August 14th, Warsaw 
A meeting with your tour escort at your hotel at 6:oo p.m. Dinner at the local restaurant. Your meal will be specially designed and connected with Chopin’s composition and will be an unforgettable introduction to Polish hospitality, culture and cuisine. Overnight at the hotel. (D/O)

Day 2: August 15th, Warsaw 
A half day sightseeing tour of Warsaw including the city highlights, such as: the Old Town beautifully rebuilt after the WW II with the impressive Royal Castle, the seat of kings of Poland. It was where the 3rd Of May Constitution was promulgated in 1791, the second constitution, next to the US Constitution, ever in the world. You will admire some of its 300 rooms. All interiors where carefully restored and look like it was centuries ago. You can see there Canaletto Room with 23 paintings of his, Throne Room, magnificent Knight’s Hall with six large paintings by Marcello Bacciarelli, the Marble room with 22 portraits of Polish kings and the largest and most impressive of all the castle’s chambers, the Ballroom. (B/L/O)

• In the footsteps of Frederic Chopin tour
  Star with a stop at the Castle’s Square where between 1826-1831 a building stood belonging to Sisters Bernadine with a music school lead by Joseph Elsner, Chopin’s music teacher. Walk along the Krakowskie Przedmiescie street with stop by the building of Res Sacra Miser. It was here where young Chopin was giving his first public concerts, at Namiestnikowski Palace and the Church of Nuns of the Visitations, as well. A visit to the Chopin Drawing Room where Chopin performed his etudes, some polonaises, and mazurkas for the first time. There is a commemorative plaque in the front of the building. Interiors were reconstructed in 1960’s according to original scetch made by Chopin’s schoolmate Antoni Kolbert. See the Kazimierzowski Palace, seat of the Warsaw Lycee which Chopin ented in 1823. Last stop along the Royal Route is at the Krasiński Palace, where Chopin’s family lived and where was the famous Chopin’s grand piano commemorated in the poem by Norwid “Chopin’s Piano”, who said about Chopin “Varsavian by birth, Pole by heart, global citizen by talen”.
  Lunch at a local restaurant and continue your tour.

• Chopin's Highlight in Warsaw
  Drive to newly opened Chopin’s Museum located in the Ostrogski Palace. Italian designers Migliore & Servetto are responsible for the innovative and state of the art exhibition concept and they reassure this will be something exceptional and the most interesting biographical museum in Europe. It will measure 4500 square meters and each out of 4 floors will be dedicated to different aspect and period in Chopin’s life. The cellar will present Chopin as a composer/pianist along with his followers. Concert room will be there as well. The ground floor will present Żelazowa Wola period, child’s room, Mr. Nicolas Chopin saloon and exhibit “ Warsaw in the times of Chopin” . First floor will focus on Parisian life, Nohant and on women in his life. Second and the last floor will be dedicated to Chopin’s European Journeys, his Personality and finally his death. Museum will be fully interactive and most technically advanced. Each visitor will receive a special token/chip which will be your guide to individual tour throughout the exhibition. The token placed in one of the many readers will allow to listen to the music, view rare manuscripts and listen to the information in many languages. The visitors will hear the noise of 19th Parisian street, sounds from the kitchen at Nohant mansion, smell the aroma of Chopin’s favorite violets etc. Beside the rare and precious 800 manuscripts and autographs viewers will be able to see Chopin's personal belongings including his clothes, coffee cup, handkerchief, pens and jewelry. Entire museum will sound with Chopin’s music except with the room commemorating his death which will be dark silent. His post mortal mask will be presented death and a piece of his natural hair.

In the evening join for the International Music Festival “Chopin and his Europe”. Symphonic Concert: Bella Davidovich & Simfonia Varsovia

Day 3: August 16th, Warsaw - Zelazowa Wola - Brochow - Lowicz - Lodz 
Morning drive to Żelazowa Wola, a birthplace of Frederic Chopin. Visit the interiors of the manor house, now a museum devoted to our great composer, where you will see memorabilia of Chopin and his family. Afterwards, drive to Brochów to see the parish church where young Chopin was baptized. It is also here where Chopin’s parents got married, as well as his sister Ludwika. There is an inscription “Baptised in this church on 23 April 1810 was Frydery Chopin, born on 22 February 1810 at Zelazowa Wola”. Afterwards, we invite you for a home-hosted lunch served by the young couple of artists who will welcome you in their charming wooden cottage based of Lowicz castle ruins. Meet with their family and enjoy the typical Polish hospitality. Departure for Lodz, the city famous for the Polish-Jewish-German tradition, now an important commercial trade, science, and medial center, highly regarded for its rich traditional heritage and the latest accomplishments. Today’s tourists take the great delight in seeing beautifully refurbished tenements and residential structures of great factory magnates – the real gem of Art Nouveau and eclecticism – as well as museum collections and unrivalled nineteenth-century industrial architecture. (B/L/O)

Day 4: August 17th, Lodz - Krakow 
Morning visit to the famous Poznanski Palace that houses the Historical Museum with beautiful dining room and exhibition devoted to Artur Rubinstein, a great pianist of Jewish origin. See the oldest Jewish cemetery in Europe that dates back to 1892 and holds more than 160 thousand graves. A vast portion of the cemetery is occupied by an extensive burial place of ghetto victims. Lunch at a local restaurant and departure for Krakow. En route stop in Ojcow National Park. Chopin gave a detailed and witty account of the adventure connected with his trip to Ojcow on July 26, 1829 . Chopin was certainly familiar with the legends connected with Ojcow and, as the composer’s biographers sates. Visit the magnificent gothic Pieskowa Skala Castle, called a little Wawel, located in an exceptionally picturesque area of Krakow. Continue to Krakow. “We spent the first week in Krakow just walking around and visiting the surrounding area” wrote Chopin in his letter sent to his friend Tytus Woyciechowski. Chopin stopped in Krakow on this way to Vienna in the second half of July 1829. (B/L/O)

Day 5: August 18th, Krakow 
Tour of Krakow, the former capital of Poland situated at the foot of the Royal Wawel Castle. The 13th-century merchants' town has Europe's largest market square and numerous historical houses, palaces and churches with their magnificent interiors. Walk through the Old Town with the Main Market Square with magnificent houses and palaces. In the middle of the square there is the Cloth Hall built before 1349, but altered in the 16th century and the magnificent extensive Gothic Church of Our Lady with the famous wooden altar created by Wit Stwosz. Visit to Collegium Maius where in the visitor’s book you can find Chopin’s signature under the date of July 23, 1829. The manuscript, which is held in the Jagiellonian Library, also carries the entries made by the friends who traveled with Chopin. Numerous Chopin souvenirs have been gathered in Krakow, in such institutions as: Collegium Maius, Jagiellonian Library and National Museum. It contains of manuscripts, autographs of his compositions and letters, portraits and busts. One of the most important exhibits is the Pleyel piano on which the composer paid during his sojourn in Scotland in 1848. It stands in the Green Room of Collegium Maius. Lunch at a local restaurant and balance of the day at leisure. In the evening join for the Festival "Music in Old Krakow." (B/L/O)

Day 6: August 19th, Krakow - Czestochowa - Warsaw 
Morning departure for Warsaw. En route stop in Czestochowa, the world-famous pilgrimage destination. Visit the Jasna Gora Sanctuary with the miraculous Black Madonna picture. See the Treasury Room with the impressive collection of many precious gifts given to the monastery throughout the ages. Lunch at a local restaurant and drive to Warsaw. Upon arrival in Warsaw, some time to relax and refresh before your evening at National Philharmonic Hall. In the evening join for the International Music Festival “Chopin and his Europe”.
Symphonic Concert: Academy of Ancient Music & Pawel Kotla. (B/L/O)

Day 7: August 20th, Warsaw
Departure Transfer to the airport for your flight back home. (B)

B=Breakfast; D=Dinner; O=Overnight                                  mitsaz2