We will be arriving at a hotel in Trieste independently. You will have time to rest and freshen up after a long flight, as well as make an introductory tour of the city. Following a meeting with the group guide, we will have a welcome dinner together, and an orientation meeting. 

Overnight in Trieste

In the morning, we will visit an impressive synagogue, the second largest in Europe (after the Great Synagogue in Budapest), and very well preserved. From there we will head over to the Jewish Museum, whose displays tell the story of the Trieste Jewry, the Jewish cemetery, and the site of the Risiera San Saba concentration camp.

In the afternoon, we will arrive at the Independence Square, tour the Canale Grande – the main waterway of the city, and visit the Via Vincenzo Bellini and Gioacchino Rossini, where you will have free time to enjoy the main streets of the city. At the end of this part of the tour, we will assemble and return to the hotel.

Overnight: hotel in Trieste.

 We will start our day by travelling to the capital of Slovenia – Ljubljana (95 km. or 60 miles), and begin with a visit to one of the historical sites of the city, the Congress Palace, followed by a tour of the famous bridges: the Triangular Bridge and the Dragons' Bridge. 

The second part of the day will be devoted to Jewish sites: the Jewish Street (Zidovska Ulica) and the Jewish Road (Zidovská Steza), the synagogue, and the center for Jewish culture. Just before evening we'll arrive at the house of the Jewish community for a meeting and Sabbath reception to be held jointly with the Jewish community. 

Overnight: Ljubljana.

After breakfast, we will head over to Lake Bled, famous for its spectacular sights. Possibly the greatest tourist attraction of the country, shaped like a human hand, it is located at the foothills of the Julian Alps; according to local tradition, it brings luck to the visitors. We shall not miss the palace in the middle of the lake.

Then take walk through the Vintgar Park, and on the way back to Ljubljana, we will visit a charming medieval town of Skofja Loka.

Overnight: Ljubljana.

Following a drive to Zagreb (145 km. or 90 miles) we'll begin our tour at the local Jewish cemetery – Mirogoj, where both Jews and non-Jews are buried in different sections, and see the Holocaust monument commemorating the city's Jews.

We will tour the "lower city," the heart of the Old City, the Llica Street, the Dolac market, and stop by the commemorative plaque at the site of the city's Great Synagogue, which was destroyed by the Nazis.

From there we will head for the viewpoint overlooking the city from the heights of the "Upper City", and visit the site of the concentration camp for children, the Jastrebarsko Camp, as well as the monument to the Jewish children. We will hold a brief ceremony at the site of mass graves.

Overnight: Zagreb.

In the morning, we will drive (110 km. or 70 miles) to the "Auschwitz of the Balkans", a name given to the Jasenowac camp on the bank of the Sava River. We will tour the camp and the museum in the company of the curator, and hear the story of the camp and its victims.

From there we will head for the "Bridge of Brotherhood", and the Monument to the Female Field Stara Gradiska. 

En route to Belgrade, we will make a stop at Novi Sad, the second largest city of Serbia. We will visit the local synagogue, which also serves as the cultural and historical center of the Jewish community, and reach the monument commemorating the murder of the local Jews perpetrated by Hungarian occupation forces on the bank of the Danube.

We will continue our journey to Belgrade, and arrive there at nighttime.

Overnight: Belgrade

We begin in the morning with a visit to the Sukkat Shalom synagogue and the Jewish Historical Museum, and see the Sephardic and Ashkenazi cemeteries. We will hold a brief ceremony of communion opposite the monument "Menorah in Flames" on the bank of the Danube, commemorating the victims of the Holocaust.

We will continue with a tour of the city center of Belgrade, and from there head for the Belgrade's fortress, known also as the Kalemegdan Fortress, located atop a hill in the center of the city. Built in the 1st century CE, the structure is the oldest continuously inhabited site in Belgrade.

We will conclude our visit with a tour of the "Tito Museum", known also as the "Yugoslavia Museum" named after the last leader of the defunct country of Yugoslavia. We will spend the evening dining in of the local restaurants.

Overnight: Belgrade

We will depart for Sofia early in the morning, and begin our tour with a visit to the city's synagogue, which serves its Jewry to this day. This splendid structure features several different architectural designs, such as the Neo-Moor style, the Venetian style, and the Viennese Secession style. Its ceiling is adorned by vaults and towers with stars of David, and giant candelabra. 

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/view-synagogue-sofia-bulgaria-1015680031

We will continue with a panoramic tour of the city, including sites such as the Parliament, the Vitosh Boulevard, the baths, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral with its numerous domes, the National theater, the St. Sofia church, and more.

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You will have free time to wander through the city center, after which we will travel for about three hours to Skopje.

Overnight: Skopje

We will begin our tour of Skopje, the capital city of North Macedonia, with a visit to the Commemorative Center commemorating the Jews of Macedonia, and the Beth Ya'akov synagogue.

We will visit the house where Mother Theresa, the saint of Calcutta, was born, the famous "Monopol" cigarette factory and the adjoining square, where local Jews were assembled prior to being shipped off to the Treblinka extermination camp. 

At noon, we will travel to the city of Bitola, called Monastir by the Jews. We will visit the ancient Jewish cemetery, established in 1497, and honor the Jewish woman partisan, Estreya "Mara" Ovadia, declared by Tito as the hero of Yugoslavia. We will conclude our visit with a leisurely stroll along the elegant promenade, Shirok Sokak Street, with its Art-Deco houses. In the afternoon, we will travel to Thessaloniki (215 km. or 135 miles). Upon arrival, we will make a short visit to the viewpoint overlooking the city, Ano Poli, and arrive in the hotel. 

Overnight: Thessaloniki

We will begin our day with the story of the Thessaloniki Jewry, starting with a visit to Yad La Zicaron synagogue, followed by a tour of the Jewish museum. After a stroll through the Modiano market, we'll visit the Monestirlis Synagogue, and from there head for the ghetto in the Baron Hirsch synagogue, where the city's Jews were assembled prior to being shipped off to Auschwitz, see the monument commemorating the Holocaust.

After resting in the hotel, we will spend the rest of the evening having dinner in a typical local tavern, with wine, music, and plenty of good cheer.

Overnight: Thessaloniki

We will conclude the Jewish chapter of our tour of Thessaloniki with a visit to the ancient Jewish cemetery of the city. From there we will arrive at the train station area, the Aristotelous Square and the White Tower, the Freedom Square, and the harbor. At noon, you will have time to wander through the city, and then we will gather together again. Those who purchased souvenirs will be able to leave them in the bus, and we will take a relaxing boat ride in the Thessaloniki Bay.

We will return to the hotel for dinner, to be followed by a summary meeting of the journey. We will conclude the evening with a Greek dance workshop, good cheer and memories to cherish.

Overnight: Thessaloniki

Farewell, and have a safe trip home.