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He went to Spain to finish his medical studies.

Hidden purposes:
- to make a name for himself in the realm of journalism.
- to observe and study European society
- to prepare himself for the task of liberating Filipinos from Spanish tyranny.

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Rizal went to Paris in order to specialize in ophthalmology. He chose this branch because he wanted to cure his mother’s eye ailment. Rizal traveled to Leipzig and attended some lectures at its local university.

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Rizal stayed in Berlin, capital of Germany, to gain further knowledge of ophthalmology, to attend some lectures at its local university, to further his studies of sciences and languages, to get familiar with the scenic Germany, to be part of the scientific community and to finish his novel, “Noli Me Tángere.”

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Rizal wrote his first letter in German to Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt. Rizal heard that Blumentritt was interested in the Philippine languages. Along with the letter was a book entitled Aritmetica. Delighted with Rizal, Blumentritt send gift books to Rizal. This marked the beginning of their long and frequent correspondence

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He boarded a train and visited various cities of Germany until arriving in Leipzig on August 14, 1886. He attended some lectures in the University of Leipzig and befriended Professor Friedrich Ratzel, a famous German historian, and Dr. Hans Meyer, German anthropologist. Rizal translated William Tell from German to Filipino so that Filipinos might know the story of that champion of Swiss independence. He also translated into Filipino Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales.

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Rizal met Dr. Adolph Meyer, the director of the Anthropological and Ethnological Museum. He stayed only two days in the city. He heard the Holy Mass in a Catholic church which greatly impressed him, for he wrote “Truly I have never in my life heard a Mass whose music had greater sublimity and intonation”.

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Rizal and Viola presented a letter of recommendation, from Blumentritt, to Norfenfals, one of the greatest novelists in Europe during that time. The great novelist was impressed by Rizal’s genius. Later he spoke highly of Rizal. Also in Vienna, Rizal received his lost diamond stickpin. It was found by a main in Hotel Krebs and was given to Blumentritt who, in turn, forwarded it to Rizal.

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RHEINFALL, SALZBURG, MUNICH, AND NUREMBERG

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RHEINFALL, SALZBURG, MUNICH, AND NUREMBERG

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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, an old city of Germany. Among the sights were the horrible torture machines used by the Inquisition, in which Rizal examined carefully. Viola and Rizal were greatly impressed by the manufacture of dolls in Nuremberg.

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They stayed in this city from June 2 to 3, 1887. They then continued their tour to Basel, Bern, and Lausanne. After sightseeing in Lausanne, Rizal and Viola left on a little boat, crossing the foggy Leman Lake to Geneva.

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The people of Geneva were linguists, speaking French, German, and Italian. Rizal conversed with them in these three languages. Rizal and Viola also went boating on the lake. Rizal showed his rowing prowess which he acquired during his boyhood days in Calamba. On June 19, 1887, it was Rizal’s 26th birthday and treated Viola to a blow-out. Rizal and Viola spent fifteen days in Geneva. On June 23, they parted ways. Viola decided to return to Barcelona while Rizal continued his tour to Italy.

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He visited Turin, Milan, Venice and Florence. On June 27, 1887, he reached Rome. He was thrilled by the sights and memories of the Eternal City—Rome. On June 29th, Rizal visited for the first time the Vatican, the “City of the Popes” and the capital Christendom. He was impressed by the magnificent edifices, particularly of St. Peter’s Church which was also his feast day during that time. Every night, after sightseeing the whole day, Rizal returned to his hotel, very tired. “I am tired as a dog,” he wrote to Blumentritt, “but I will sleep as a god”. After a week of staying in Rome, he prepared to return to the Philippines. He had already written to his father that he was coming home.