RIZAL’S TOUR IN EUROPE WITH VIOLA

• After the NOLI came off the press in BERLIN, Rizal planned to visit
the important places in Europe.
• DR. MAXIMO VIOLA agreed to be his travelling companion.
Rizal had received Paciano’s remittance of 1,000 pesos which was
forwarded by JUAN LUNA from PARIS.
• He immediately paid Viola the sum of 300 which the latter kindly
loaned so that the Noli could be printed.
• Having paid his debt, and with adequate funds in his pocket, he
was ready to see Europe before returning to Calamba.
First, he and Viola visited POTSDAM, a city near Berlin, which
FREDERICK THE GREAT made famous.
 THE TOUR BEGINS
• At dawn of May 11, 1887, Rizal and Viola, two brown-
skinned doctors on a roaming spree, left Berlin by train.
• It was an ideal season for travel. Spring was in the air,
and all over Europe the flowers were blooming, the
meadows were turning green, and the villages were
humming with the activity.
• According to Viola the luggage of Rizal included all the
letters he had received from his family and friends.
 DRESDEN
• One of the best cities in Germany.
Rizal and Viola tarried for some time in Dresden. Their visit
coincided with the regional floral exposition.
• Rizal, who was interested in botany, studied the numerous plant
varities of extraordinary beauty and size.
• They visited Dr. Adolph B. Meyer. who was, overjoyed to see them.
In the museum of art, which they also visited, Rizal was deeply
impressed by a printing of “Prometheus Bound’’ and recalled
seeing a representation of the same idea in an art gallery in Parid.
• While strolling at the scene of the floral exposition, they
met Dr. JAGOR. Upon hearing of their plan to visit
Leitmeritz in order to see Blumentritt of their coming
because the old professor was of a nervous disposition.
• TESCHEN was their next stop over after leaving
Dresden. Rizal and Viola sent a wire to Blumentritt, as
per suggestion of Dr. Jagor.
 FIRST MEETING WITH BLUMENTRITT.
• On May 13, 1887, the train Rizal and Viola on board, arrived at
the station of Leitmeritz (Litomerice), Bohemia. He was
carrying a pencil sketch of Rizal which the latter had previously
sent him, so that he could identify his filipino friend.
• For the first time , the two great scholars, Rizal and
Blumentritt, who came to know each other by
correspondence, met in a person.
• Blumentritt was a kind-hearted, old Australian professor.
• Upon seeing the talented Rizal for the first time, he
immediately took him into is heart, loving him as a son.
• Professor Blumentritt help Rizal and Viola get a room at
Hotel Krebs.
• They spent many pleasant hours at the home of their
kind host.
• They stayed in Leitmeritz from May 13, to may 17, 1887.
 BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES IN LEITMERITZ
• The professor’s wife Rosa, was a good cook, and she prepared
Austrian dishes which Rizal liked very much. His children were
Dolores(called Dorita by Rizal), Conrad and Fritz.
• Rizal enjoyed the warm hospitality of the Blumentritt family.`
• Blumentritt proved to be a great tourist guide as well as a hospitable
host. He showed the scenic and historical spots of Leitmeritz to his
visitor.
• One afternoon he invited them to a beer garden where the best beer
of Bohemia was served. At a near table there was a lively discussion
among the drinkers about the advisability of having the railroad
passthrough a neighboring town.
• One of the men in the group was the burgomaster (town
mayor) of said town.
• Blumentritt delightfully introduced his two filipino friends. Rizal
talked in fluent german, for which reason the burgomaster and
his friends were amazed. Blumentritt embraced Rizal, telling
him that few Germans could speak well their own language as
Rizal could.
• On another afternoon Rizal and viola were invited to a meeting
of the tourist’s club of Leitmeritz, of which Blumentritt was the
secretary.
• Rizal spoke extemporaneously in perfect german to the members and
officers, praising Austria’s idyllic scenes and its hospitable, nature-loving
and noble people. The audience were enchanted by his eloquence and
fluency in German.
• Rizal painted a portrait of the kind professor and gave to blumentritt and
was pleased with the gift.
• It was during his visit in Leitmeritz when Rizal met another renowned
scientist of Europe, DR. CZEPELAK.
• Blumentritt also introduced Rizal to PROFESSOR KLUTSCHAK an eminent
naturalist.
• On their last night in Leitmeritz, Rizal and Viola to reciprocate
Blumentritt’s hospitality, tendered a banquet-a farewell dinner-in his
honor at the hotel.
• On may 17, Rizal and Viola left Leitmeritz by train. Blumentritt and his
family were at the railroad to see them off, and they all shed tears in
parting as the train slowly departed.
• Rizal carried unto his grave the beautiful memories in Leitmeritz. In a letter
to Blumentritt, written in Vienna on May 24, 1887, Rizal expressed his and
Viola’s concern for the illness of Dora, the professor’s little daughter.
• In another letter , written in Brunn, Austria on may 19, 1887, Rizal wrote to
Blumentritt: You are not alone Rizal, in a small corner of Bohemia there are
good, noble and friendly souls who like you; think of them, consider them
as if they were with you, they will rejoice over your joys, and will weep over
your suffering…’ Please kiss the children for me, express my greetings to
your wife and to your good father and the friends in Leitmeritz. I believe
Austria will always live in my heart.” In the same letter, Rizal told he forgot
his diamond stickpin at his room in Hotel Krebs.
 PRAGUE
• Rizal and Viola visited the historic city of prague. They carried letters of
recommendation from Blumentritt to DR. WELLKOMM, professor of natural
history in the University of Prague.
• Rizal and viola visited
– the tomb of Copernicus,
– the famous astronomer;
– the museum of natural university;
– the bacteriological laboratories
– The famous cave where San Juan Nepomuceno
– The catholic saint, was imprisoned
– And the bridge from which this saint was hurled into the river.
 VIENNA
• On may 20, RIZAL AND VIOLA arrived in the beautiful city of Vienna, capital of
Austria-Hungary. This city impressed Rizal because of its
– Beautiful buildings
– Religious images
– Haunting waltzes
– And majestic charm
• Vienna was truly the “QUEEN OF THE DANUBE.”
• Rizal and Viola met NORFENFALS, one of the greatest novelists in Europe
during that time. This great Austrian novelist was favorably impressed by Rizal,
and years later he spoke highly of Rizal, “whose genius he so much admired.”
• Rizal and Viola stayed at HOTEL METROPOLE. They visited the
city’s interesting places such as
– Churches
– Museums
– Art galleries
– Theaters
– And public parks
• They met two good friends of Blumentritt, Austrian scholars.
– Masner
– Nordmann
 DANUBIAN VOYAGE TO LINTZ
• On May 25, Rizal and Viola left Vienna on a river boat to see
the beautiful sights of Danube River. As they traveled along the
famous river, Rizal observed keenly the:
– River sights
– Barges loaded with products
– Flowers and plants growing along the river banks
– Boats with families living on them
– Quaint villages on the riversides.
• He noticed that the passenger on the river boat were using
paper napkins during the meals, which was a novelty to him.
 FROM LINTZ TO RHEINFALL
• They traveled overland to SALZBURG, and from there to
Munich where they sojourned for a short time to savor the
famous Munich beer, reputed to be the best in Germany.
• From Munich, they went to NUREMBERG, one of the oldest
cities in Germany. Among the sights which they saw in this city
were the horrible torture machines used by the inquisition.
• Rizal examined carefully these torture machines. He and Viola
were impressed by the manufacture of dolls which was the
biggest industry of the city.
• After Munich they visited ULM. The cathedral of this city was
the largest and tallest in all Germany.
• Viola related that he and Rizal climbed its many hundred steps.
• He rested twice on the way to the tower and felt dizzy from the
strain upon reaching the top.
• Rizal , on the other hand, ascended without resting and was
not tired when he reached the top.
• From Ulm, they went to Stuttgart, Baden, and then Rheinfall.
• At Rheinfall, they saw the waterfall, the most beautiful
waterfall of Europe.
 CROSSING THE FRONTIER TO SWITZERLAND
• From Rheindfall, they crossed the frontier to
SCAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland.
• They stayed in this city from June 2 to 3, 1887.
• They continued their tour to Bassel, Bern, and
Lausanne.
 GENEVA
• After sightseeing in Lausanne, Rizal and Viola left on a little
boat, crosssing the foggy Leman Lake to Geneva.
• This Swiss city is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe,
visited by world tourists every year.
• The people of Geneva were linguists, speaking french, German,
and Italian.
• Rizal conversed with them in these three languages.
• Aside from visiting tourist spots, rizal and viola
went boating on the lake.
• On June 19, 1887, Rizal treated Viola to a blow-
out. It was his 26th birthday. According to a filipino
custom, he gave a nice meal to celebrate his natal
day.
• On june 23, they parted ways, Viola returned to
Barcelona while Rizal continued the tour to italy.
 RIZAL IN ITALY
• From Geneva, Rizal went to Italy. He visited Turin, Milan,
Venice, and Florence.
• On June 27, 1887, he reached Rome, the “CITY OF
CAESARS.”
• On June 29th, the Feast Day of St. Peter and St. Paul,
Rizal visited for the first time the Vatican, the “CITY OF
THE POPES” and the capital of Christendom.
• He was deeply impressed by the magnificent edificies,
particularly St. peter’s church, the rare works of art, the vast St.
Peter’s Square, the colorful papal guards and the atmosphere
of religious devotion that pervaded the Vatican.
• Every night, after sightseeing the whole day, Rizal returned to
his hotel, very tired.
• He wrote to Blumentritt,
“ I am tired as a dog, but I will sleep as a god.”
• After a week of wonderful sojourn in Rome, he prepared to
return to the Philippines.
• He had already written to his father that he was coming home.