1 DAY: Arrival to Krakow.
Welcome meeting and getting acquinted with Krakow Old town.Half day city tour of Krakow. During city tour you will follow footsteps of John Paul II and will see the Palace of Krakow Bishops. It has been residence of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla from 1958 to 1978, before he became Pope John Paul II. You will also visit Wawel Castle and cathedral which is a part of Wawel Castle and where Karol Wojtyła, performed his first mass as a priest and also at Cathedral’s main altar he was made a bishop. Overnight at Krakow.
2 DAY: Krakow – Wadowice – Kalwaria Zebrzydowska – Krakow
Morning departure to Wadowice, John Paul II home town. The John Paul II museum in Wadowice includes the apartment where he was born. We will visit Basilica and will see the place where John Paul II was baptized, where he served a mass. On March 25, 1992, Pope John Paul II gave the church the status of a Basilica Minor.
We will also stop at Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, a UNESCO World Heritage site and place of pilgrimage. Pilgrims visit this devotional complex every year to see the Sanctuary of Passion and Marian Bernardine. Overnight at Krakow.
3 DAY: Krakow – Auschwitz – Wieliczka salt mines
Morning drive to Auschwitz extermination camp where an estimated 1.1 million people were killed. In order to acquire a proper sense of the place that has become the symbol of the Holocaust of the European Jews as well as Nazi crimes against Poles, Romas and other groups we will visit both parts of the camp, Auschwitz I and Auchwitz II – Birkenau. Hear the story of Blessed Father Maximilian Kolbe who stood up to Nazis at Auschwitz and gave up his life for a fellow prisoner.
Later in the afternoon we continue our trip to Wieliczka salt mines. After arrival we will go down steps to the mine, with experienced local guide and will walk kilometers of underground corridors with impressive chambers and chapels where you will be revealed the history and secrets of the salt mine.
You will admire the magnificent sculptures in the chapel dedicated to Saint Anthony. Your journey will be awarded by visiting the wonderful Chapel of St. Kinga where you will discover magnificent altars, a copy of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper and a salt statue of John Paul II.
Over the nine centuries of salt extraction the salt mine has transformed into an underground city in which a specific, therapeutic micro climate has developed. Overnight at Krakow.
4 DAY: Krakow – John Paul II center – Czestochowa – Warsaw
The sanctuary and Shrine of Saint John Paul. The sanctuary is part of John Paul II center. The modern church is a specific place of devotion to St John Paul II in Krakow, as the precious relics of the saint are stored here. Later we will be transferred to Divine Mercy Sanctuary.
Divine Mercy Srine is a Roman Catholic Basilica dedicated to the Divine Mercy Devotion. In 1985, Pope John Paul II called Lagiewniki the “capital of the Divine Mercy devotion”. Since the beatification of Saint Faustina in 1993, her remains rest on the altar, below the image of Divine Mercy.
Driving to Częstochowa, city in the southern Poland. The city is known for the famous monastery of Jasna Góra, which is the home of the Black Madonna painting, a shrine to the Virgin Mary.
Driving further to Warsaw. Overnight at Warsaw.
5 DAY: Warsaw city tour
During city tour you will visit the old Town with St. John’s Cathedral and the area of former Jewish Ghetto. We will also visit church of St. Stanislaw Kostka where blessed Father Jerzy Popieluszko is buried. Popieluszko is known as a martyr whom was brutally murdered by communist militia officers in 1984.
. Visit to the convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Żytnia Street. It was this Congregation to which Sister Faustina Kowalska entered and became a nun. We will visit chapel where she prayed. Overnight at Warsaw. (Optional) to enjoy listening to the concert of Chopin that take place every Sunday in summer.
6 DAY: Warsaw – Augustow – Kaunas
After breakfast we will departure to Kaunas Via Bialystok. Blessed Father Michael Sopocko, was the confessor and spiritual director to Sister Faustina. Father Michal Sopoćko died in Bialystok and after beatification his body can be found at the Church of the Divine Mercy in Bialystok.
Lunch stop at Augustow. Departure to Kaunas. Overnight at Kaunas.
7 DAY: Kaunas – Siluva– Vilnius
Kaunas city tour with panoramic view of the city. Visiting old town and Kaunas Cathedral Basilica of the Apostles St. Peter and Paul which is one of Lithuania’s oldest and largest sanctuaries. Pope John Paul II visited Kaunas during his trip to the Baltic States in 1993.
On route following John Paul II route we will also visit Siluva which was also included in Pope’s route. Since 2018 Siluva is added to the St James Way. We will also see chapel, which was built on the rock that Virgin Mary appeared in 17 century. It is one of the first apparitions of Virgin Mary in Europe. Arrival to Vilnius and overnight at Vilnius.
8 DAY: Vilnius city tour – Trakai
City tour with panoramic sightseeing of Vilnius from the Hill of Three Crosses.
St. Faustina lived and worked in Vilnius between 1933-1936. It is here that E. Kazimirowski, a painter, painted the Picture of Divine Mercy according to St. Faustina’s vision. City tour also includes entrance to Divine Mercy Shrine, where you can find original picture. It is also here where you will find the Gate of Dawn, with the Holy image of Virgin Mary.
After lunch driving to Trakai historical national park, with one of the most famous castles of Baltic States, situated in the middle of the lake. Overnight at Vilnius.
9 DAY: Vilnius
Morning prayer and transfer to St Faustina house, visit to St. Peter and Paul church.
Visit to Congregation of Merciful Jesus sisters also place where original picture of Divine Mercy was painted in Vilnius. Overnight at Vilnius.
10 DAY: End of the trip. Transfer to the airport.
