Breakfast
Half day trip – Gdansk City Walk - 3hours, English speaking guide, private trip
Places to be visited: The Old Town area:
Torture Tower:
Multi-floor exhibition with additional multimedia displays features everything amber-related from large raw lumps of the stuff to some stunningly ornate artistic creations. Highlights include plants and insects trapped inside pieces, the world's largest display of natural amber blocks, a small section devoted to ambers former medicinal uses and an amazing amber Fender Stratocaster. The final rooms of the tour take in the attached Torture Museum, a nod to the original purpose of the building in which the museum is housed.
Admission 10/5zl, family ticket 20zl. Entrance is free on Monday until September 15, from this date on entrance is free on Tuesday
Upland Gate
Upland Gate, is the most impressive of all Gdansk’s entrance gates. This gate marks the
start of the Royal Route on Boguslawskiego Street and was part of the city’s fortifications from the 16th to 19th centuries. In those times, the gate would have been flanked with an earthen wall of equal height, but today the gate stands alone. Regal lions sit proudly on top of the gate’s roof and the gate’s frieze bears the marks of Gdansk, Royal Prussia, and Poland. Below those emblems is a Latin inscription which reads ‘Justice and piety are the foundations of all states.’ Solid defensive structures like this one helped the just and pious rulers of Gdansk defend themselves and their city from the not so just and the not so pious.
Golden Gate:
Goledn Gate, originally Langgasser Tor, is one of the most notable tourist attractions of the
city.
It was raised in 1612–14 in place of the 13th century gothic gate (Brama Dlugouliczna). It is located at one end of Long Lane (Dluga street, German: Langgasse), where, together with Brama Wyzynna and Wieza Wiezienna, it forms a part of the old city fortifications.
It was designed by architect Abraham van den Blocke and was constructed by Jan Strakowski. The architectural style of the gate is Dutch manierism. Next to it is the late-gothic building of the Brotherhood of St. George.
Both sides of the gate have attiques, with figures symbolising citizen's qualities. They were designed in 1648 by Jeremias Falck ('Polonus'), and reconstructed in 1878 due to the originals being damaged by time and climate.
From the West side they represent: Pax (Peace), Libertas (Freedom), Fortuna (Wealth) and Fama (Fame). From the East side (Long Lane) they are Concordia (Agreement), Iustitia (Justice), Pietas (Piety) and Prudentia (Prudency). The Latin inscription on the gates reads: Concordia res publicæ parvæ crescunt - discordia magnæ concidunt, which means 'In agreement small republics grow, because of disagreement great [republics]fall'.
Destroyed in World War II, it was rebuilt in 1957. The original German inscription has recently been restored: Es müsse wohl gehen denen, die dich lieben. Es müsse Friede sein inwendig in deinen Mauern und Glück in deinen Palästen (Psalm 122)
Long Street, Long Market: Together forming the Royal Route, rank among the most beautiful streets of Gdansk. Perpendicular to the Motlawa River, they start at the Golden Gate and end at the Green Gate. The route used to mark the residential area of the richest Gdansk patriciate, and almost every house has its own, rich history. The oldest authentic buildings date back to the Middle Ages, though most of the urban development reaches back no later than to the modern times. The houses at Long Street are typical for Gdansk with their narrow facades topped with gables or parapets.
Neptune's Fountain, in the center of Dlugi Targ (the Long Market) has grown to be one of Gdansk's
most recognizable symbols. The bronze statue of the Roman god of the sea was first erected in 1549, before being aptly made into a fountain in 1633. Like the city he represents, Neptune has had a storied history, himself - dismantled and hidden during World War II, old Neptune didn't come out of hiding until 1954 when he was restored to his rightful place in the heart of the city, reminding us of Gdansk's relationship to the sea. Chances are you've already had your photo taken with this mighty trident-wielding behemoth, or will soon. The colourful buildings of Dlugi Targ make a great backdrop for any photo-op, so flash those gums and say 'cheese!'
The Crane: The oldest documented mention of Zuraw as a wooden port crane was in 1367. What you see today, however, was reconstructed in the middle of the 15th century after a devastating fire devoured the original structure. The large crane was used to place masts on ships and to load cargo. During World War II, the wooden area was destroyed and only 60% of the brick portion remained in tact. After the war, Zuraw was once again rebuilt and handed over to the museum. Today you can find different exhibits detailing the interesting history of the entire port of Gdansk. The crane is home to a branch of the Maritime Museum. Zuraw is open to visitors during the summer months from 10 AM to 6 PM--Saturdays are free!
St. Mary Cathedral
Amber Museum: Located inside Gdansk’s medieval Torture Tower this fine, multi-floor exhibition with additional multimedia displays features everything amber-related from large raw lumps of the stuff to some stunningly ornate artistic creations. Highlights include plants and insects trapped inside pieces, the world's largest display of natural amber blocks, a small section devoted to ambers former medicinal uses and an amazing amber Fender Stratocaster. The final rooms of the tour take in the attached Torture Museum, a nod to the original purpose of the building in which the museum is housed.
Admission 10/5zl, family ticket 20zl. Entrance is free on Monday until September 15, from this date on entrance is free on Tuesday
the price includes English speaking guide, entrance fee to St. Mary Cathedral and Amber Museum.
Overnight in Malbork