New Year in Eastern Europe

The Barber of Seville
Prague Winter Festival

Itinerary

Sun 28 December 2008 - Budapest
Arrive Budapest and check in to your hotel. This evening, enjoy a special welcome reception with Christopher Lawrence and your fellow group members. (BD)

Mon 29 December - Budapest
With a dramatic position straddling the Danube River, Budapest is made up of two cities – Buda and Pest. After a leisurely start to the day, begin your exploration of the city with a tour of Pest. Visit the Franciscan Church, decorated with magnificent 19th century paintings; the Inner City Parish Church, Pest’s oldest building; the 19th century Basilica of St Stephen and the Old Town centre. After lunch, the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure before an evening opera, ballet or concert performance at one of Budapest’s renowned performance venues. (B)

Tue 30 December - Budapest
Continue your discovery of Budapest with a tour of the Bartók Museum then on to the Castle District atop Buda Hill, dominated by the 18th century neo-Baroque Royal Palace. Visit the historic St Matthias’s Church and enjoy spectacular views of the Danube and Pest side from Fisherman’s Bastion. After lunch visit the Liszt Museum, set within the house where the composer once lived. On display you will see furniture, documents and two pianos on which Liszt composed his works. (BL)

Wed 31 December - Budapest
Morning excursion to Gödöllõ, most famous for its Baroque palace, the Grassalkovich Mansion, which was the favourite residence of Franz Jospeh’s wife, Queen Elizabeth. This afternoon is free to enjoy Budapest’s famous ‘café culture’ or why not try a traditional hammam (Turkish bath)?
This evening, celebrate New Year’s Eve in style by attending the annual Gala Ball at the magnificent Hungarian State Opera House (BD)

Thu 1 January 2009 - Budapest
Happy New Year!
A full day excursion of Hungary’s famed Danube Bend. Start with a visit to the ruins of Visegrad Castle for a panoramic view before continuing on to the quaint artists’ colony of Szentendre for a guided tour of the town and free time to visit a gallery. After lunch, continue to Esztergom’s renaissance cathedral, Hungary’s largest, which looms over the river. (BL)

Fri 2 January - Budapest to Prague
Transfer by coach to Prague. On arrival in the Czech Republic’s elegant capital, check in to your hotel where there will be time to freshen up before an early dinner, followed by your first Prague Winter festival performance - Mozart’s Don Giovanni at the famous Estates Theatre. It was here that Mozart conducted the premiere of Don Giovanni in 1787. (BL)

Sat 3 January - Prague
After a leisurely morning, attend the official opening ceremony of the Prague Winter Festival at the Municipal House. Continue with lunch in a local restaurant, then take a walking tour of the historic centre of Prague. See Wenceslas Square and walk through the narrow cobble-stoned streets of the Stare Mesto (‘Old Town’). Stop at the Old Town Square to see the astronomical clock then end the tour at the famous Charles Bridge. Return to the hotel in time to freshen up before this evening’s performance of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker at the National Theatre. (BL)

Sun 4 January - Prague
Start the day with a tour of Prague’s Castle District – Hradčany - a vast complex of buildings dating back to the 9th century with spectacular views over the Vltava River. Visit the Strahov Monastery, the Royal Palace, St Vitus’s Cathedral and the Golden Lane. End the tour with an historic tram ride from the Castle District down to the centre of the city. You will have free time to explore the city or simply relax before this evening’s performance of Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman at the State Opera House, followed by a buffet dinner at the venue. (BD)

Mon 5 January - Prague
This morning explore ‘Art Nouveau Prague’ and the Jewish Quarter, visiting Pinkas Synagogue, the Jewish Cemetery and the Spanish Synagogue. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the area surrounding the Jewish Quarter was largely redeveloped in art nouveau style, the finest example of which is the Municipal House, one of Prague’s major public buildings. Afternoon at leisure before a concert by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra at the Rudolfinum followed by the official Festival Closing Ceremony. (B)

Tue 6 January - Prague
Start the day with a visit to the museum dedicated to the Czech composer Dvořák. Then travel out to Villa Bertramka. Mozart stayed at this former 17th century vineyard manor house during his visits to Prague in 1787 and 1791. Here in this idyllic setting, Mozart finished the score of Don Giovanni shortly before its memorable premiere at the Estates Theatre. Take the funicular to Petrin Hill for lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the beautiful garden of Wallenstein Palace and St Nicholas Church, one of the greatest Baroque buildings in Europe. Evening performance of Puccini’s Turandot at the State Opera House. (BL)

Wed 7 January - Prague to Krakow
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Krakow, arriving at around 1pm. Transfer to your hotel in the centre of the city. Afternoon at leisure. (BD)

During your stay in Poland you will enjoy two performances in Krakow and/or Warsaw – venues and performances to be advised when programmes are released in late 2008.

Thu 8 January - Krakow
Morning visit to Wawel Castle with its extraordinary collection of 16th century tapestries and Wawel Cathedral, where four centuries of Polish kings and queens are buried. Later this afternoon, take a walking tour of Krakow’s Grand Square dominated by the majestic Gothic Mariacki Church (Basilica of the Virgin Mary), followed by a visit to the Collegium Maius, the impressive 15th century Grand College of Krakow University, whose former students include Copernicus and Pope John Paul II. (BL)

Fri 9 January - Krakow
A morning at leisure. This afternoon drive to Wieliczka for a visit of the astonishing Wieliczka Salt Mine. Spread over nine levels, it has 300 km of galleries with works of art, altars, and statues sculpted in the salt, making your visit a fascinating pilgrimage into the past of a major industrial undertaking. (BD)

Sat 10 January - Krakow to Warsaw
Depart Krakow for a leisurely day’s drive to Warsaw. Stop en route in Częstochowa for lunch and a visit to the Jasna Góra Monastery, the third-largest Catholic pilgrimage site in the world. Home to the beloved icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa, the monastery is also the national shrine of Poland and the centre of Polish Catholicism. Arrive in Warsaw in the late afternoon. (BL)

Sun 11 January - Warsaw
Start your exploration of Warsaw with a morning sightseeing tour of the Old Town and sites associated with Poland’s greatest composer - Fryderyk Chopin. These include the Holy Cross Church and its memorial to Chopin, the Drawing Room in which he first composed and performed his études, polonaises and mazurkas and the Church of the Nuns of Visitation, where Chopin was the organist. Also pass by the Palace of Culture & Science. After a special farewell lunch, continue with a visit to the 17th century Royal Castle, devastated by German troops after the Warsaw uprising, then returned to its former glory with careful rebuilding and restoration. (BL)

Mon 12 January - Return
Transfer to Warsaw international airport for your return flight to Sydney. (B)

YOUR HOTELS****+:
Budapest - Sofitel Budapest Maria Dorottya
Prague - Hotel Palace Praha
Krakow –Holiday Inn Krakow City Centre
Warsaw – Sofitel Victoria Warsaw