A las Flores de Heidelberg
During his six-month stay in Heidelberg, Jose Rizal was deeply inspired by the town’s natural beauty and historical aura. There, he penned a poignant poem to the flowers of Heidelberg, reflecting on love, hope, and his motherland’s struggles. Heidelberg fostered Rizal’s educational and cultural development, notably through his apprenticeship with ophthalmologist Professor Otto Becker and his significant correspondence with Ferdinand Blumentritt, which continued until his death. These experiences greatly impacted Rizal’s growth as a nationalist and reformer.