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
 Potsdam
• 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.
• 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.
 Switzerland
• 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.