Knights and Castles
Touring
Days 1 and 2: Gdansk
Gdansk is Poland’s maritime capital and has a history dating back over 1,000 years. This city, once one of the most important merchant towns in the Hanseatic League, features beautifully restored architecture as well as one of the largest fortresses in Europe – Malbork Castle. We will spend an evening in the neighboring seaside resort of Sopot, with its scenic vistas and picturesque boardwalk.
Meals: Breakfast daily, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Days 3 through 5: Warsaw
Warsaw experienced almost complete destruction in 1944, but today it is hard to imagine as it has been restored to its prewar glory. We will visit a few of the most notable attractions such as the Royal Palace, the Uprising Museum and Lazienki Park.
Meals: Breakfast daily, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Days 6 through 8: Krakow
Krakow is a city that connects tradition with the new Poland. Examples of Baroque and Gothic architecture are found scattered throughout this Renaissance city and blend seamlessly with the new architecture found just outside the city walls. Our visit to Krakow will take us to Wawel Castle, the St. Mary’s Basilica, and Auschwitz.
Meals: Breakfast daily, 2 Dinners
Days 9 and 10: Vilnius
Vilnius has been on the world map a long time (since the fifth century B.C.), and there is a lot to see: the Gates of Dawn, the Gediminas Castle, even a former KGB headquarters. During our visit, our private guide will take us to Trakai, perhaps the most ‘Lithuanian’ town of all.
Meals: Breakfast daily, 1 Dinner
Days 11 through 13: Riga
So close and yet so different; Riga is medieval, Gothic and Art Nouveau, all in one cosmopolitan city. Outside of the city there is the Rundale Palace, designed by Rastrelli (who also designed the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg).
From Old Town, we will admire Riga’s enchanting skyline filled with elegant spires from Latvia’s many Lutheran cathedrals. If scheduling permits, we will be invited backstage at the beautifully restored Riga Opera House (where Baryshnikov started his career) for a private tour.
Meals: Breakfast daily, 2 Lunches, 1 Dinner
Days 14 through 17: Tallinn
In Tallinn our private guide will show us around the historic heart of the city – Toompea Castle, St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and of course the Town Square. Not to be missed is the Gothic Town Hall and the grand guild houses, which are some of the best surviving examples of European 15th and 16th century civic architecture.
We’ll also venture outside of Tallinn to see the Kadriorg Palace, founded by Peter the Great; today it houses a fine European art collection. In the afternoon, we’ll embark on a torchlight tour of Tallinn’s ancient Dominican monastery.
Meals: Breakfast daily, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
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