Black Madonna Czestochowa (Catholic Private Tour)

Jacob ,our driver/tour guide was very prompt in picking us. Once settled in the van(for the 3 of us), he distributed snacks in a brown bag.The drive to Czestochowa was very smooth. We went up the tower before our private guided tour with a Monk .Had Father Faustine just for the three of us.That was the highlight of the trip.The best private tour we can remember.Father Faustine showed us areas of the complex that very few tourists have seen.We kneeled very close to the Black Madonna TWICE! He was not rushing on our tour despite that there were thousands of pilgrims since it was the Feast of the Black Madonna. We stopped at Our Lady of Piekary on our way back to Krakow which was a bonus. We would do it all over again.

Jasna Gora has special energetic feeling. It's really impressive to walk about the monastery and have one of the fathers or monks as a guide, it gives it even more feeling to the visit inside the Black Madonna Shrine. When we visited, it was a special day for many kids dressed in white, making their confirmation. So there was a lot of singing which made it so very special to visit the Shrine. Then do stop over to the main chapel which is as gorgeous as the shrine itself. We then visited the treasure room, where all the jewels, gold, silver and gemstones are kept from all the devotes and famous people that came to thank the Black Madonna. Very interesting to know that the Madonna is black because of an artistic technic of those times, yet her skin is not meant to simulate a dark skin woman. The dresses they have for her are impressive too....and to know that they undress the panting when she is not being visited was very interesting to know. I enjoyed the visit so much. Chose a tour that won't rush you thru your visit and let's you take time to take in all the details and beauty of the shrine and main chapel. So worth enjoying it to the most.