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Day 1. Arrival in St
Petersburg, transfer to the hotel. Time at leisure to recover from
jet-lag. Dinner and overnight.
Day 2. General and
music tour of the Imperial capital. Visit the Peter and Paul Fortress,
resting place of the former rulers, the St Isack Cathedral, The Yusupov
palace, the Rasputin House, the Smolny Convent and many
other historical and monumental sites. Drive by the house where Stravinsky
and also where Tchaikovsky lived. Lunch at a typical restaurant
followed by visit to the Rimsky-Korsakov museum and the Music
Conservatory founded by A.G. Rubinstein. Among those associated with
the conservatory were Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Shostakovich. Inside
visit of the Mariinsky (Kirov) Theatre housing the world�s best
ballet company. Drive by the house where Stravinsky or Anna Pavlovna used
to live and the modest building where Tchaikovsky died as
well
as the Vaganova Choreographic School, the world�s finest ballet
school where Russia�s former and future dancers are trained.
In the afternoon visit the Sheremetev Palace housing a large collection of musical instruments some
of them are historical rarities, others on displayed were played by
famous musicians.
Today's highlight is a ballet or opera performance at the
Mariinsky (Kirov) Theatre
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Day 3. Full day
excursion to Peterhoff and Puhskin, two great summer palaces
of the czars. Peterhof
on the Gulf of Finland is a jewel of Russian art, a town of parks,
palaces and fountains. Guided tour of the exquisite baroque palace
followed by a stroll around the Lower Parks, masterpieces of
landscape design with golden statues, cascading fountains, ponds and
many smaller palaces. Lunch at the palace restaurant. Drive to the
town of Puskin where you can marvel the newly restored Catherina�s
Palace, and other grandiose examples of imperial power.
The palace and Park ensemble is a fascinating monument of the
world's architectural and gardening arts of the 18th
century. Stroll around the beautiful park, visit the many intimate
pavilions, charming smaller palaces, former hideouts of Catherine
the Great and her descendents. Return to St. Petersburg. Evening concert performance at the Glinka Hall where
Anton Rubinstein made his debut in 1843 or possible ballet
performance at the Hermitage Theatre, the former private Theatre of
Catherine the Great, or Russian Folk show at the Nikolayesvsky
Palace |
Day 4. Full day excursion to Novgorod,
capital of Russia in the Middle Ages. See the typical orthodox monastery
of Yuriev built in the 11th century and the kremlin,
Novgorod's centerpiece. Visit the St. Sophia's Cathedral, an 11th
century structure that was the center of all the action during Novgorod's
glory days and the 1862 bronze monument dedicated to the millennium of the
founding of Russia, with 129 historical figures around its base and crown.
Across the river from the kremlin is Yaroslav's Court and Market Place,
where you can see churches (including the 16th century "Church of the
Myrrh-Bearing Women") and the remains of a 13th century trading yard.
Lunch in a typical restaurant in the kermlin where you can taste the local
honey wine, mead and some other typical delicacies of the region.
Continue on to Pskov. Dinner and overnight.
Day
5. Drive to Pskov.
Pushkin
lived in the village of Mihailowskoye. The masterpieces of poetry and
prose he created there have enriched the treasure-chest of world
literature.
Two
great Russian composers, connected with music and friendship, lived and
worked in Pskov region. The village of Karevo is the birthplace of the
composer Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881). Not far away from Karevo in the
village of Naumovo there was an estate of his mother's parents. The
creator of "Boris Godunov" and �Khovanshchina� believed that
the impressions he drew from the local folk songs, tales and sayings
nourished his music. Mussorgsky is appreciated as the first composer who
introduced the impersonation of the people's character to the world of
music at large. Visit the Naumovo estate near Velikiye Luki which is now the Mussorgsky
museum. Dinner
and overnigth in Pskov.
Day
6.
Excursion to Lyubensk-Vechasha.
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov lived in a picturesque place called Wechasha, he
wrote eight of his operas there, including Sadko, "The Tsar's
Bride", "The Tale of Tsar Sultan" and "The Tale of the
Invisible Town of Kitezh". Visit
the Lyubensk estate where he died near his favorite Pesno Lake. The Rimsky-Korsakov
museum is opened at the Lyubensk-Vechasha reserve (13 km from Plyussa).
Return to St. Petersburg for overnight
Day 7. Guided tour
of the Imperial Winter Palace and the Hermitage Museum. Afternoon
free. Dinner at a typical Russian restaurant serving dishes based on old
court recipes. The dinner is accompanied by entertainment of Russian music
and romances.
Day 8. Time at
leisure to discover the myriad of historical sites, many monumental
palaces and museums the city
can boast; or optional excursion to nearby Pavlovsk, former residence of
Paul I.; or excursion to Gatchina, former estate of Natalie, sister of
Peter the Great. After her death Catherine the Great presented the
property to Count Orlov, one of her �Favorites�.
There is also the possibility of arranging guided tours in the Russian
Museum, housing the largest collection of Russian art in the whole
country. Overnight first
class train to Moscow.
Day 9. Morning
city tour of Moscow including the Kremlin, the Red Square,
the Bolshoi
Theatre,
this
world-class
ballet theater with a tumultuous history dating back to the late 18th
century and producer of some of Russia's most famous ballets stars,
including Rudolf Nuryev and Maya Plisetskaya. See the Cathedral of
Christ the Savior, the Novodevichhy Convent, the beautiful 16th
century convent founded by Vasily III in 1524 to commemorate the recapture
of Smolensk from the Lithuanians ten years earlier and the resting place
of some of Moscow's most famous artists, writers, politicians and public
figures. Lunch in a bohemian restaurant Guided tour of the Glinka
Museum of Music Culture in the 16th century mansion
illustrating the history of Russian Music. Dinner and overnight in Moscow
Day 10.
Day at leisure to discover Russia�s capital much changed since Soviet
times. Our suggestion is a stroll around he Arbat, once a bohemian quarter
of the city, littered with cafes crammed full of the capital's
intellectual elite. The Arbat is today Moscow's liveliest pedestrian
street and offers a great choice of street cafes, restaurants, bars,
clubs, souvenir stalls, art markets and street entertainers. You could
also Visit the Izmailov Market - just a few minutes walk from the 16th
century Imperial Estate where the future Peter the Great spent much of his
childhood. The city's largest and most animated souvenir market offers
visitors a wide range of Russian handicrafts, Soviet memorabilia, original
paintings and delicious local dishes.
An
other choice would be the famous Tretyakov Gallaery showcasing everything
from icons to portraits of some of Russia's most prominent 18th and 19th
century public figures.
Evening
performances at the Bolshoi Theatre. Dinner and overnight in Moscow.
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Day
11. Full day excursion to Suzdal and Vladimir to the Russain
heartland. Vladimir is a town with more than 1000 years history.
Situated in 180 km to the north from Moscow, it was the capital of
ancient north-east Russia. The town was called after its founder - Kiev
Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich. See the Cathedrals of Assumption and St.
Demetrius Cathedral, Golden Gates and the Embroidery Art museum. Continue
on to Suzdal situated 30 km from the former capital city. |
Suzdal
was first mentioned in the annals in 1024. This small and very quiet town
was a capital of big principality, and now it looks like an ideal Russian
provincial town. It has 5 monasteries, 33 churches, white stoned
Kremlin,
ancient wooden buildings. Suzdal is a have-to-be-seen place when traveling
to Russia. City tour with visits to the local Kremlin and its famous St.
Cross Hall, Ephimievsky the Savoir monastery and the Wooden Architecture
museum. Return
to Moskow. Fareweel dinner, overnight
Day
12. After breakfast transfer to the airport
to board your flight back to your home city.
Inquire
about prices:
info@allegroholidays.com
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