Prague Passau Melk Dürnstein Vienna Bratislava Budapest
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Prague ◆ Passau ◆ Melk ◆ Dürnstein Vienna ◆ Bratislava ◆ Budapest aboard the Deluxe M.S. AMMADEUSADEUS SIILVERLVER IIII July 13 to 24, 2016 ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ Dear Smith Alumnae and Friends: We invite you to join us on this exclusive journey to the cultural centers that inspired classical music’s Great Masters. Framed by rolling hillsides, lush vineyards and medieval castles, the Danube River Valley has resonated with musicians, artists, poets and travelers throughout the centuries and has contributed to the world the genius of its most renowned virtuosos. Our comprehensive itinerary encompasses fi ve countries in the heartland of central Europe. It has been custom designed and will be carefully orchestrated to include private performances featuring the musical heritage of Europe’s most accomplished composers, including Mozart and Beethoven, and to allow opportunities to explore seven UNESCO World Heritage sites. Cruise the legendary Blue Danube from Passau, Germany, to Budapest, Hungary, aboard the exclusively chartered, deluxe M.S. AMADEUS SILVER II, one of the fi nest ships to ply the waterways of Europe, launched in 2015 and docking often right in the heart of the cities. Spend three nights in the historic and world-class city of Prague, the “City of a Thousand Spires,” in a deluxe, centrally located hotel. Your experience is enhanced by a comprehensive schedule of exclusive and specially arranged expert lectures, private classical music performances and guided excursions in Prague and in each port of call along the Danube River. Traveling through the heartland of Europe has never been more historically rich and culturally exciting. This exceptional program is an excellent value and sure to strike a chord with both new and repeat travelers as it taps into the heart and soul of this extraordinary region, as well as its great composers, art and architectural masterpieces. I encourage you to book now as this popular trip sells out quickly. Early Booking Savings are only available through January 13, 2016. Sincerely, Elizabeth A. Bigwood Director, Smith Travel Offi ce of Alumnae Relations Smith College U.S./ houses and workshops once occupied by Prague, Czech Republic castle goldsmiths, alchemists, artisans Wednesday and Thursday, and guards. Author Franz Kafka was July 13 and 14 said to have lived here between 1916 Depart the U.S. for Prague, and 1917. the “City of a Thousand Spires,” Prague/Passau, Germany a UNESCO World Heritage site Sunday, July 17 showcasing 600 years of virtually Travel across rolling hills and untouched architecture. Upon arrival, through the bucolic wooded Czech check into the deluxe INTERCONTINENTAL and German countryside to Passau, PRAHA HOTEL. Attend a private Welcome the only place on Earth where three Reception Thursday evening in the hotel. rivers—the Danube, Ilz and Inn—meet. Prague Enjoy lunch in a historic, traditional Friday and Saturday, July 15 and 16 German restaurant before the walking On the guided walking tour, explore the tour along the cobblestone streets of diverse cultural legacy of Prague, celebrated Altstadt, Passau’s Old Town. Visit the for its splendid combination of Gothic, Baroque-style St. Stephan’s Cathedral, th Renaissance and Baroque architecture. consecrated in the 12 century, where the Walk along the narrow, picturesque lanes of largest pipe organ in the world is housed. the Staré Mˇesto (Old Town) to the Orloj, Embark M.S. AMADEUS SILVER II. the ornate, 15th-century astronomical clock Attend the Captain’s Welcome Reception of the Old Town Hall. See the world-famous this evening. Following dinner, Charles Bridge, adorned with 17th- and enjoy a short concert by the 18th-century Baroque statues. Enjoy a ship’s musicians. brief private performance of Mozart’s Linz, Austria, for Salzburg music and a specially arranged private Monday, July 18 tour of the Estates Theatre, where the This morning, arrive prodigy’s opera, Don Giovanni, premiered in Linz and transfer to in 1787. In Josefov, the Jewish Quarter Salzburg, a delightful of Prague, visit Europe’s oldest extant UNESCO-designated Jewish house of worship—the Gothic-style city and the birthplace of Old-New Synagogue—and walk amongst Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. the moss-covered, 15th-century headstones Enjoy a walking tour of of the Old Jewish Cemetery. Salzburg’s Old Town to On Saturday, tour the fascinating admire its splendid Baroque former residence of Bohemian royalty, the architecture, the majestic The highest and low Hradˇcany complex of castles, churches 17th-century Cathedral organ in Passau’s St. and museums, whose spires dominate and the landmark are nearly inaudib the city skyline. By special arrangement, Festung Hohensalzburg, view original Beethoven manuscripts and the largest fully preserved fortress in enjoy a private string quartet concert central Europe. Stroll through lovely in the family-owned, 16th-century Mirabell Gardens and along the charming Lobkowicz Palace. Visit the neo-Gothic Getreidegasse pedestrian thoroughfare St. Vitus Cathedral, the largest and most to see the house where Mozart was born signifi cant cathedral in Prague, and see in 1756. the Royal Mausoleum and magnifi cent Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant St. Wenceslas Chapel. Then walk and time at leisure to explore Salzburg. through the “Golden Lane,” a quaint Drive through the breathtaking Austrian byway lined with small, Mannerist-style countryside featured in the classic movie, Cover photo: Budapest’s majestic Parliament Building is a classic example of Gothic Revival architecture and a proud symbol of Hungary’s national rebirth. Photo this page: In Prague, the “City of a Thousand Spires,” the famous Charles Bridge links the medieval Old Town with the splendid Baroque palaces of the Little Quarter, the city’s most intact historical district. UNESCO BEERLINRLIN World Heritage Site Cruise Itinerary Air Routing GERMANY Land Routing DRRESDENESDEN r e PRRAGUEAGUE v i CZECH REPUBLIC R a v a t l V e R nub iver Da SLOVAKIA PAASSAUSSAU LIINZNZ DÜÜRNSTEINRNSTEIN BRRATISLAVAATISLAVA MEELKLK WWachauachau VValleyalley VIIENNAENNA BUUDAPESTDAPEST SAALZBURGLZBURG AUSTRIA HUNGARY Admire the Rococo grandeur of Schönbrunn P residence of Habsburg royalty from Marie An The Sound of Music, and stop in the enjoy a short, private organ concert inside picturesque town of Mondsee to see the 15th-century Stiftskirche Dürnstein. the historical church where Maria In the lingering light of summer, and Baron von Trapp were married in be on deck this evening as you cruise the fi lm. the Danube’s spectacular and fabled Melk/Dürnstein Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Tuesday, July 19 Heritage site, where terraced vineyards In the riverside town of blanket hillsides dotted with the haunting Melk, visit the magnifi cent ruins of medieval castles. Benedictine Abbey, a showcase Vienna of impressive Austrian baroque Wednesday and Thursday, July 20 and 21 architecture, priceless relics and The former seat of the Habsburg Empire, stunning 18th-century ceiling Vienna’s historic center is an open-air frescoes by Paul Troger. In the museum of splendid Baroque architecture abbey’s beautiful Stiftskirche and a UNESCO World Heritage site. (church), admire the striking, Tour this remarkable city, which owes its perfectly intact 16th-century present appearance to Austro-Hungarian altarpiece by “Danube School” Emperor Franz Josef, who created master Jörg Breu the Elder. the famous Ringstrasse showcasing west tones of the pipe A prestigious center of its fi nest landmarks—the impressive . Stephan’s Cathedral scholarship throughout the Vienna State Opera House and the lavish ble to humans. Middle Ages, the abbey’s Hofburg Palace. Visit the iconic, Gothic library is today a repository Stephansdom (St. Stephen’s Cathedral). of 100,000 medieval manuscripts. Enjoy a private, specially arranged This afternoon, visit the charming performance of Mozart’s music in the medieval village of Dürnstein, situated below Sala Terrena, Vienna’s oldest concert the hilltop ruins of Castle Kuenringer, where hall and where Mozart resided, Richard the Lionheart was held prisoner after worked and performed briefl y in 1781. the Third Crusade. Walk through the quaint, Wednesday afternoon is at leisure to picturesque village to visit the Assumption further explore the cultural treasures of of the Blessed Virgin Abbey Church and Vienna on your own. Dürnstein is nestled within the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site that contains traces of past civilizations, including medieval villages, castles and monasteries. of St. Martin and the elaborate Primatial Palace and see St. Michael’s Gate, Bratislava’s oldest preserved medieval fortifi cation, originally built in 1300. Your afternoon is free to further explore this charming city. Budapest, Hungary Saturday, July 23 Austrian-born, nevertheless the “most Hungarian Habsburg,” Archduke Joseph is credited with creating in Budapest an imperial capital that rivaled Vienna. Buda and Pest, the centuries-old twin cities that face one another across the Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site and summer Danube River, the embankments along this ntoinette to Emperor Franz Josef. storied river and the Buda Castle Quarter together are designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Begin your tour in Pest to see the elegant, neo-Gothic limestone Parliament Building, built between 1884 and 1904 and towering over the river. Pass through Heroes’ Square and admire the monuments honoring the Magyar chiefs who conquered Hungary in A.D. 896. Visit the 19th-century, neo-Renaissance Hungarian State Opera