Rizal’s Grand Tour in Europe

with Maximo Viola

• After the publication of the Noli Me Tangere,
Rizal had received remittance from Paciano
worth P1,000.00 which was forwarded by
Juan Luna from Paris.
• Rizal immediately paid Viola P300.00 that he
used to published the novel.
THE TOUR
 POSTDAM
• Near Berlin
• It became famous because of
Frederick the Great - skillfully
employed the limited Prussian
resources to make his kingdom
the most powerful German
state during the seven Years
War.
• Viola and Rizal left Berlin by
train.
DRESDEN
• Where they visited the Regional Flower Exposition.
• Rizal – interested in Botany, studied the variety of plants.
• Dr. Adolph Meyer – was visited by the two physicians.
• They visited the Museum or Art where Rizal became
deeply impressed by the painting Prometheus Bound.
• Prometheus – a Titan punished by Zeus for giving fire to
mankind.
• Feodor Jagor – was also visited by Rizal
and Viola.
- Was informed of the two physicians plan to visit
Blumentritt
- Warned Rizal to inform Blumentritt first because he
might suffer a nervous breakdown because of shock.

• Teschen (Decin) – found in Czech Republic

Stop over
LEITMERITZ, AUSTRIA
• Now known as
Litomeritce in Czech
Republic.
• Where Ferdinand
Blumentritt lived.
• Rizal and Viola stayed in
this place from May 13-
16,1887.
• Ferdinand Blumentritt –
waited for Rizal and Viola
in the train station
carrying with him a
sketch of Rizal.
• Hotel Krebs –
where Rizal and
Viola stayed while
they were in
Leitmeritz.
• Rizal enjoyed the warm hospitality of Blumentritt’s family.
• Rosa – Blumentritt’s wife was a good cook
• Dolores (Dora, Dorita), Conrad and Fritz – were nice to them.
• Ferdinand – a great tourist guide and a hospitable host.
• Offered the best beer in Bohemia to his guests
• Introduced Rizal to the town Mayor who was impressed in his
communication skills.
• Tourists’ Club of Leitmeritz – a group where Blumentritt
was the secretary.
• Rizal spoke extemporaneously in fluent German praising
Austria’s idyllic scenes and hospitable, nature loving and
noble people.
• He was willfully applauded.
• Dr. Carlos Czepalak – a renowned scientist
• Professor Robert Klutschak – a eminent naturalist.
• Both were introduced by Blumentritt to Rizal
• Rizal painted
Blumentritt as a sign of
his gratitude
 PRAGUE
• Viola and Rizal carried with
them a recommendation
from Blumentritt address to
Dr. Welkomm – professor of
natural history in the
University of Prague.
– He accompanied the two
physicians in visiting the
historic places
• Tomb of Nicolaus Copernicus – famous
astronomer
• Museum of Natural History
• Bacteriological Laboratories
• Cave where San Juan Nepomuceno, the
Catholic saint was imprisoned as well as the
bridge where he was hurled into the river.
 VIENNA
• Capital of Austria-Hungary
• Rizal and Viola spent four
days in this city visiting
the buildings and
examining holy images
and statues.
• Queen of Danube
• Norfenfals – one of the greatest novelists in
Europe during Rizal’s time was met by Rizal
through Blumentritt.
• Diamond stickpin – lost by Rizal in Hotel
Krebs, given by the maid to Blumentritt.
• They stayed in Hotel Metropole
DANUBIAN VOYAGE TO LINZ
• Rizal and Viola left Vienna
via boat to see the beautiful
sights of the Danube River.
• They noticed that passengers
were using paper napkins
during the meals instead of a
cloth napkin.
 FROM LINZ TO
RHEINFALL
• They left Austria from Salzburg, where Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart was born. They re-entered Germany.
• Munich – where they stayed for a short-time to drink the
Munich Beer (the best in Germany).
• Nuremburg – one of the oldest cities in Germany
• Where they saw the horrible machines used in the Inquisition
• The two were impressed by the manufacture of dolls which
was the city’s biggest industry.
 FROM LINZ TO
RHEINFALL
• Ulm – where the largest and tallest Cathedral in Germany.
• From here they went to Stuttgart, Baden, and in Rheinfall –
were they saw the most beautiful waterfall in Europe.
 SWITZERLAN
D
• From Rheinfall to
Schaffhausen, Switzerland,
• Here they visited Basel
(Bale), Bern, and
Lausanne.
GENEVA
• One of the most beautiful cities in Europe visited by
tourists every year.
• He spent 15 days in this place
• Rizal spent his 26th birthday
• Viola returned to Barcelona from Geneva
• Rizal continued his tour to Italy.
Exhibition of Igorots in 1887
Madrid Exposition
• In Geneva, Rizal and Viola received news from Madrid
about the deplorable conditions of the primitive Igorots
who were exhibited in the exhibition.
• Some of whom died, and whose scanty clothing (G
strings) and crude weapons were objects of mockery and
laughter by the Spaniards.
• Rizal was outraged by the degradation of his fellow
countrymen.
 ITALY
• In this place Rizal visited
Turin, Venice an Florence.
• June 27, 1887 – he
reached Rome “The
Eternal City and the City
of Ceasars”
 VATICAN
• June 29, 1887 – Feast day
of Saints Peter and Paul.
He visited the Vatican –
the city of the popes and
the capital of Christendom.
• The grandeur of Rome was something
that Rizal did not fail to appreciate in his
sojourn in Italy. After a week of travel in
Rome, he prepared for his homecoming
to the Philippines.