Zicasso Top Holiday Pick: Travelotica Presents Opera Week in Poland October 22nd – 29th, 2008

Poznan Opera House -the building is a part of complex of parks and monumental structure built on an area that became
available with the demolition of 19th fortification, was built in 1910 by the city's German authorities to a design of Munich
architect Max Littmann. It is one of ten Opera Houses currently operating in Poland. The buildings neoclassical facade is
crowned with Pegasus, the winged horse, which has become the symbol of the Poznań Opera.

Wroclaw Opera House -since 1997 recognized as one of the most impressive opera stages in Poland. The Wrocław Opera
uses unconventional forms and places for its shows, like Tosca on the open air, with acts scattered from the St. Maria
Magdalene Cathedral and Leopoldinum to Partisans' Hill, cameral shows in Leopoldinum and the National Museum.
Krakow Chamber Opera -located in Krakow's Kazimierz in a beautiful historic building along Miodowa Street. The activity
of the theatre includes cultural and artistic enterprises, assembling various arts, in order to maintain cultural inheritance and
identity. It was a reason of creating Academy of Tradition, presenting musical performances, inspired by Polish tradition and
custom.

National Opera House -Opera was brought to Poland only twenty years after it first appeared in Florence by Royal Prince
Ladislaus IV Vasa. In 1628 he invited to Warsaw the first Italian opera troupe and as soon as he ascended the Polish throne in
1632, had a theatre hall built in his castle, where regular opera performances were produced by an Italian company directed
by Marco Scacchi. For over 170 years the Teatr Wielki (Grand Theatre), called today the Teatr Wielki -National Opera, has
been Poland’s grandest opera and ballet institution. Its building was erected in 1825-1833 to designs by the Italian architect
Antonio Corazzi of Livorno for the companies of national opera, ballet and drama active at the time in Warsaw.
In the uear 2008 National Opera House celebrates 175 anniversary of the National Opera House in Warsaw and this is a great
opportunity to visit Poland and enjoy a spectacular opera performance.

Octover 22, 2008 - Wednesday WARSAW (D)
Half day tour of Warsaw starting with the Castle Square where you can see the first nonecclesiastic statue in Warsaw King
Sigismund’s Column and the originally Gothic castle dated to the 15th century expanded throughout the centuries which
was the seat of kings of Poland. It was where the Third Of May Constitution was promulgated in 1791, the one in the
world after American. Walk through the Old Town with its charming Market Square, New Town and the Monument of
Warsaw Uprising. Continue your sightseeing IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FREDERIC CHOPIN: Holy Cross Church where
Chopin’s heart is placed, Chopin Drawing Room, Ostrogski Castle (outside only – property under renovation). Visit to
Protestant Church of the Holy Trinity, Church of Nuns of the Visitation where Chopin used to play as a young boy and stop
by the Lazienki Royal Park where you will see the famous Chopin’s Monument beautifully surrounded by bushes of roses.

7:00 pm – Private 2-part Chopin Piano Concert:
Program to include:
FREDERIC CHOPIN’ s world famous compositions peformed by one of the leading Polish pianists. A
glass of sparkling wine will be served during the interval
Welcome dinner at of the local restaurants in the Old Town.

Octover 23, 2008 - Thursday WARSAW – POZNAN (D, L)
Morning departure. Upon arrival lunch at a local restaurant and orientation walk though the city of Poznan – the legendary
cradle of Poland. See the Poznan Old Town with the Renaissance Town Hall, where at noon two mechanical billy goats
clash horns. The façade of the house surrounding the squre, once the homes of the wealthiest residents, feature
Renaissance and Baroque motifs. Nearby is the Museum of Musical Instruments, with exhibits from all over the world.
Evening transfer for your opera performance.

7.00 p.m. – Poznan Oper House
Program to include:
• OTELLO by Giuseppe Verdi

October 24th, 2008 - Friday POZNANWROCLAW (D)
Morning drive to Wrocalw. Orientation walk along the Wroclaw, one of the oldest cities in Poland, a capital of Lower Silesia
beautifully located along the Odra River. A city once described as “the holy blossom of Europe, a beautiful gem among
cities” which lately became a cultural center for the whole of southwestern Poland. Today, Wroclaw with its beautiful
historical buildings in the Market Square and the Town Hall are recognised as a gem of GothicRenaissance urban
architecture. Welcome dinner at one of the local restaurants located in the Old Town.

7.00 p.m. – Wroclaw Opera House
Program to include:
• DIE ZAUBERFLOTE by W.A. Mozart

October 25th, 2008 - Saturday WROCLAW (B, L)
Half day tour of Wroclaw, a city full of magical places, a living off trade with number of squares and historical buildings.
See the Town Hall located in the heart of the Market Square – one of the most beautiful old city halls in Poland with its
characteristic 66 meterhight tower, ceramic gable, lovely portal and sculptures. Walk through the Old Town where you will
see many tenementhouses, churches with the famous St. Mary Magdalene’s Church and St. Elizabeth’s Church. Visit the
monumental university building with the magnificent Aula Leopoldinum – one of the best Baroque interiors in the city.
Lunch at the Piwnica Swidnica restaurant beautifully located in the Wroclaw Town Hall at the Market Square.

See the magnificent Aula Leopoldinum and the UNESCO site Centennial Hall (Hala Ludowa).
The Centennial Hall (Jahrhunderthalle in German and Hala Ludowa in Polish), a landmark in the history of
reinforced concrete architecture, was erected in 19111913 by Max Berg, at the time municipal architect in Breslau,
as the Polish city of Wrocław was called at the time, when it was part of Germany. The Centennial Hall, a multipurpose
recreational building, is a centrallyplanned structure situated on the Exhibition Grounds. The Centennial
Hall is a pioneering work of modern engineering and architecture, which exhibits an important interchange of
influences in the early 20th century, becoming a key reference in the later development of reinforced concrete
structures. Included on the UNESCO list in 2006.

7.00 p.m. – Wroclaw Opera House
Program to include:
RIGOLETTO by Giuseppe Verdi

October 26th, 2008 - Sunday WROCLAWKRAKOW (B, L)
A morning departure for Krakow. Lunch at one of the local restaurants located in the Old Town.
Orientation tour of Krakow, the former capital of Poland situated at the foot of the Royal Wawel Castle. The 13thcentury
merchants' town has Europe's largest market square and numerous historical houses, palaces and churches with their
magnificent interiors. Walk through the Old Town listed on UNESCO list with the Main Market Square with magnificent
houses and palaces. In the middle of the square is the Cloth Hall built before 1349, but altered in the 16th century. Inside
are many shopping stalls and on the first floor is the National Museum which has a collection of Polish sculptures and
paintings from the 18th to the 20th century. Also in the square is the magnificent extensive Gothic Church of Our Lady
with the famous wooden altar created by Wit Stwosz.

7.00 p.m. – Krakow Opera House
Program to include:
TRAVIATA by Giuseppe Verdi

October 27th, 2008 - Monday KRAKOW (B, D)
A morning city tour including Wawel Royal Castle the residence of Polish kings and the Royal Cathedral the coronation
church. See the magnificent chambers of the Royal Castle and admire the tapestry collection of king Sigismund Augustus
that includes 138 tapestries of various size and character. A visit to the Cathedral, the place of the cult of St. Stanisław
and of St. Jadwiga, the Queen of Poland. It is also a true national Pantheon of Polish kings.

= Highlight = The most valuable items are the magnificent tapestries – probably the largest collection of its kind in Europe.
The collection contains some 360 tapestries arranged in series which illustrate Biblical themes such as: Adam and Eve in
Eden, The Story of Noah and The Building of the Tower of Babel.

Afternoon tour of Kazimierz district listed on UNESCO list. Further evidence of the town's fascinating history is provided by
the remnants of the 14thcentury fortifications and the medieval site of Kazimierz with its ancient synagogues in the
southern part of town.

6.00 p.m. – Krakow Chamber Opera
Program to include:
DON PASQUALE by Gaetano Donizetti
Farewell dinner at one of the Jewish restaurants located in the Kazimierz district. Enjoy your farewell meal and klezmer
music concert.

October 28th, 2008 - Tuesday KRAKOWWARSAW (B, L, D)
Morning drive to Warsaw. En route stop for homehosted lunch in Lowicz. You will be welcomed by a local family who has a
charming house set by the ruins of the former Lowicz Castle. Enjoy a typical Polish hospitality and taste delicious Polish
dishes. You can also have a walk through the beautiful garden and see the castle ruins.
Continue your drive to Warsaw. Time to refresh and transfer for your evening opera performance.

7.00 p.m. – Warsaw Opera House
Program to include:
FAUST – an opera in five acts by Charles Gounod to a French libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré
from Carré's play Faust et Marguerite, in turn loosely based on Goethe's Faust, Part 1.

October 29th, 2008 - Wednesday WARSAW (B)
After breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight back home.