We present 1000 years religion and culture of Hungary with 'NEW VISION' including:

... travellers' active participation
... meetings with representatives of different denominations
... socio talks and meetings about past and present
... situation of Catholic Church during communism
... personalized offers with excellent hotel and service rates
... best Italian speaking guides with high level knowledge

We believe that travelling does not mean sitting on the bus and having optical entertainment only. Our mission is to combine classic tourist programme with creative interesting talks and arrangements.
We move people closer to each other and help our travellers to meet local citizens with having direct information through their private lives and feelings. Our travellers can be incentive for some moments without paying more than the others.

New Visions of Pellegrinaggi turn into reality with socio meetings and talks:

► during visiting Pannonhalma Abbey monks invite our group for visiting their activities at Benedictine Wine Production including a glass of wine. People will get direct information how the communist regime took away the winery (1949) and how they could get it back after 1989

► during visiting St. Stephan’s Basilica in Budapest our group meets the organ player of the basilica who performs special 15 minutes concert organzied exclusively for the group

► in Budapest we organzie 2 hrs socio talk about the situation of Christian Church in the communist era (1949-1989) with special guests (a priest, another person who was working for years in Vatican and now is a radio programme director with own radio talk show ’World of conviction’, or an Italian member of Order of Capuchins living in Hungary for years)

► visiting the only Hungarian founded religious order of the Roman Catholic Church known as the Order of Saint Paul founded in 1250. The rock church of the order was closed by the communists but in 1989 the church was excavated and reopened

► in Esztergom we invite suffragan bishop János Székely and a professor of the Theological Academy (speaks Italian and had studies in Roma) to meet our group and present brief information about the capital of Hungarian Religious Cult

► possibility to meet representatives of other denominations (Orthodox and Jewish)

► visiting Máriabesnyő: the famous shrine to the Virgin Mary – the patron saint of Hungary. Possibility for exclusive organ and choir concert

► on the way back to Italy our group stops at the very first Chrishtian church of Hungary - Tihany Abbey. Before visiting the Abbey the group takes the mini train up to the church and having prosecco during enjoying panorama view of the lake


PROGRAMME EXAMPLE

DAY 1: arrival from Italy – Pannonhalma – Budapest

Italian speaking guide for arrival to Pannonhalma. Right after arrival lunch at restaurant VIATOR. After lunch entrance to Abbey incl. movie about life of the Abbey, church, crypt, library, exhibition and possibility to meet the local representative of the monks and talks about life in the Abbey.
There is possibility for visit at the Winery incl. 1 glass of wine and meet the representative of the community who talks about the history of the winery.

History ...
Pannonhalma Archabbey, settled by the first Benedictine monks in 996, is one of the oldest historical monuments in Hungary. The first extant record of Hungarian language preserved in Pannonhalma.
Programme ...
Guided tour starts with a fifteen-minutes film about life of Benedictine community in the past and nowadays. Following the film, local guide shows guests the basilica, crypt, cloisters and library. Through Abbey Winery Tour guests can have an insight into the history of the Benedictine wine culture, the technological processes of wine making and also can taste the wines of monks.
New vision ...
After visits cultural chat with local representative of the Abbey about special costums of monks.
Short trip to the city of Győr and visit the Erma di Santo Ladislao I, wich - apart from the Holy Crown and the Holy Right Hand - is the most significant sacral relic of Hungary. He was the first and most famous Hungarian knight king who greatly expanded the boundaries of the kingdom. After his canonisation, Ladislao became the model of the chivalrous king in Hungary.

Late afternoon arrival to hotel | dinner | overnight.


DAY 2: fullday Budapest tour

Thematical citytour with Italian sp guide including entrance to Mathias Church and Fishermen’s Bastion. During the tour we visit the Andrássy Street, Budapest's most beautiful avenue we reach the city centre. The European continent's first underground railway runs under the avenue. In the banking-quarter there are several impressive buildings, like the Hungarian National Bank and the Hungarian Television. In front of these buildings stands the last Soviet Monument of Hungary. On the Danube bank stands the country's largest building, the Parliament.

On top of Mount-Gellért is the Statue of Liberty together with the building of Citadella, being the symbols of Budapest. A marvellous view is to be seen from this spot on all the capital.

Crossing the river Danube we reach its right bank, which is called Buda. The most significant sights of Buda side are the Buda Castle Quarter belonging to UNESCO World Heritage, the block of the Baroque style Royal Palace and the civil living quarter with Mátyás Church. Fishermen's Bastion with its graceful line of buildings is overlooking the left bank of Danube, a breathtaking view on Pest side.

Lunch at centrally located restaurant.

After the lunch, the city tour continues on the Pest side, with the Saint Stephen Basilica. It is a dominant sight of downtown Pest. The domes are visible from nearly everywhere in the city and the plaza housing the basilica is frequently crossed by pedestrians. It is also home to the Hungarians' most revered relic- the mummified right hand of the first monarch, King Saint Stephen - making it more than just another beautiful church to visit. One can view the hand and then ride the elevator to the 65 meter high lookout at the top of the grand dome for a 360-degree view of the city.

History ...
St. Stephen's Basilica, the most important Roman Catholic church of Hungary, is named for Saint Stephen I, the first king of Hungary, whose Holy Right Hand is housed in the reliquary.
New vision ...
Organ concert in the fantastic acoustical Basilica especially organised for the group.
Social talk about the situation of Christian Church in the communism. Invited guests – believers and denominational persons - talk about how they retained Christian belief and costums between 1945-1989.
And more ...
► visit of Saint-Gellért Cave Church wich is the most famous sanctum of Pauline Order, built in a misterious cave in Gellért Hill. The Pauline Fathers are a Hungarian founded religious order of the Roman Catholic Church, formally known as The Order of Saint Paul the First Hermit. This name is derived from the hermit Saint Paul of Thebes (died ca 345), canonized in 491. After his death, a monastery taking him as its model was founded on Mount Sinai and still exists today. This unique cave church will be represented through guided tour and audio guide.
► visit of the Order of Capuchins in Budapest. After church visit short talk with a representative of local capuchins about the life of their order in Hungary.

In the evening dinner at hotel or alternative dinnercruise.


DAY 3: Esztergom and the Danube Bend

After breakfast departure to Esztergom. Upon arrival welcome by a professor of the Theological Academy (speaks Italian and had studies in Roma) for a short presentation of Hungarian religous cult.
During visiting the Basilica there is possibility to meet suffragan bishop János Székely.

History ...
The Primatial Basilica dedicated to Virgin Mary is the seat of Hungarian Catholicism and also the tallest sacral building of Hungary.
Programme ...
Visit of the Basilica including the treasury, the richest ecclesiastical collection in Hungary.
New vision ...
Visit of Bakócz Chapel (part of the Basilica), built by Italian masters, ornamented with Tuscan Renaissance motifs. Meeting with suffragan bishop János Székely or a professor of the Theological Academy (speaks Italian and had studies in Roma) for a short presentation of Hungarian religous cult.

Continue the way to Visegrád – here everyone can view the system of fortifications in the city, the Fellegvár, the panorama of the Danube Bend, the Royal Palace and the Salamon Tower. Stop for lunch.

After lunch enjoying lovely artist town Szentendre - was once built up at the end of 17th century from the Balkans, by Serbian and Dalmatian settlers escaping the Turks. Take a walk in Szentendre, popular for tourists and artists as well . This includes the Main Square, the Greek Church, the Museum of Margit Kovács and the church hill with a Catholic church from the 14th century. After the citytour there is possibility to meet the representative of local Greek Catholic community and cultural chat about their customs.

Late arrival back to hotel | dinner | overnight.


DAY 4: Gödöllő and Máriabesnyő – the holy place to the Virgin Mary

After breakfast departure to Gödöllő – Máriabesnyő with Italian sp guide. Arriving to Gödöllő we stop for a brief visit (outside and the court) the Royal Residence was used by Franz Joseph Habsburg and Queen Elisabeth known as 'Sissi'. Later continue to Máriabesnyő – the holy place of the Virgin Mary.

History ...
The little town of Máriabesnyő - located 30 kms from Budapest – is one of the most famous shrines to the Virgin Mary, the patron saint of Hungary.
Programme ...
The town is famous for its two storied baroque church and also the Mary exhibition with the smallest Virgin Mary statue in Hungary. The perfect copy of the cedarwood Madonna in Loreto (Italy) is also part of the exhibition.
New vision ...
Guided visit by a local representative talks about Virgin Mary's cult in Hungary. Visit of the church, crypt and Mary statues. Local organ concert and choral on request.

For lunch we arrive to Lázár Farm and enjoy Hungarian hospitality with authentic programme. Welcome by snaps and snacks, horse carriage riding, horse show, visiting the farm. Typical lunch incl. world famous goulash soup and other typical dishes including drinkpack (wine, mineral water, coffee) and live music.

After lunch back to Budapest for freetime or alternative socio programmes like:
► meet and talks with the Italian Capuchin friars who live in BUD
► entrance to Saint-Gellért Cave Church - the most famous sanctum of Pauline Order, built in a misterious cave of Gellért Hill, meet the representative of the order
► entrance to Synagogue + Tree of Life
► entrance to Synagogue + Tree of Life + Museum + Ghetto Tour
► meet and social talk with a representative of the Jewish community about the situation of the community from 1930’s until nowadays.

Dinner at hotel | overnight


DAY 5: on the way back to Italy visiting Tihany

Check out hotel and departure to Tihany with Italian sp guide. Right at the arrival to Tihany enjoying mini train transferring the group up to the Abbey. Next to the Abbey welcome by prosecco and enjoying the wonderful panorama view of the lake and surroundings. Visit at the Abbey – one of the eldest Christian churches in Hungary.

History ...
Tihany Abbey, founded in 1055, is the very first christian church of Hungary. The almost thousand years old crypt preserved the shrine of King Andrea I, who continued and confirmed the policies of Christianisation in the early 1000's.
Programme ...
Visit of the old crypt and the baroque church.
New vision ...
After arrival to Tihany, a little train takes the group up to the hill. Welcome prosecco in the garden of the monastery while enjoying the picturesque view of Lake Balaton.

After the visit having lunch and later departure to Italy.