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CRUISE PROGRAM / ITINERARY
Moscow:
Spend three unforgettable days in the capital of Russia and admire numerous
treasures of its history and present days and enjoy its beauty!
Tours included in Moscow:
City tour : Stop at St. Sofia Embankment of the Moskva-river; The Bolshoy
Stone Bridge; stops at Cathedral of Christ the Savior and Pushkin Museum of Fine
Arts; the new monument to Peter the Great; Gorky Park; stop at New Maiden
Convent; observation platform of Sparrow (Lenin) Hills; Viktory Park and
Poklonnaya Hill with World War II Memorial; Kutuzov Avenue; White House.
Kremlin The former
residence of Russian czars, an architectural ensemble of unique beauty, which
took shape between the 15-th and 20-th centuries. Cathedral Square - the center
of the Kremlin with the 15-th century Assumption Cathedral, the main church of
Russia, the 15-th century Annunciation Cathedral, the private church of Russian
czars and the 16-th century Cathedral of the Archangel, the burial place of the
czars. On the ground of the Kremlin there are famous Czar Cannon of the 16-th
century and Czar Bell of the 18-th century.
Optional tours in Moscow
The Armoury Chamber
The treasury of Russian Czars with unique collections of gold and silver items
of the 12-19th centuries, Russian arms and armour of the 12-16th centuries, the
state regalia, thrones, carriages and coronation dressers of the 16-19th
centuries, as well as ambassadorial gifts of the 16-19th centuries
STATE TRETYAKOV ART GALLERY
It is a national museum of Russian founded in 1856 by Peotr Tretyakov. The
collection with its 100 thousand exhibits includes 5,000 works of ancient
Russian art and world famous paintings by Russian and Soviet artists as well as
sculptures and examples of graphic art.
Moscow by night &Metro
Photo stops at St. Sofia Embankment of the Moskva-river, the Bolshoy Stone
Bridge; driving along the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Pushkin Museum of Fine
Arts, the new monument to Peter the Great; Gorky Park; photo stop at
the New Maiden Convent; observation platform of
Sparrow (Lenin) Hills; short stop at Poklonnaya (Bow) Hill with World War II
Memorial; driving along Kutuzov Avenue; White House and the Kremlin; stop at the
Red Square. During the Moscow by night excursion you will be taken to Moscow
underground stations, make two or three rides and see four or five
stations (the most beautiful ones). Each station was to be different from the
others and designed in an original manner. The early lines opened in 1935 were
the most successful in this respect. In the early fifties the luxuriously
appointed and excessively decorated Circle line was built. The Komsomolskaya
Station, serving the three railway station, is the most extreme, with its heavy
gilt and ceiling mosaics depicting leaders on the mausoleum in Red Square.
Uglich
Founded in 1148, Uglich is one of the most beloved towns in old Russia. The view
of the town as it is approached from the Volga River is especially lovely with
the Cathedral of the Resurrection and St.John’s Church looming on the horizon.
At the end of the 16th century, Maria Nagaya, seventh wife of Ivan the Terrible,
lived in honorary exile in the Kremlin at Uglich. It was here in her garden that
the Tsarevich Dmitry met his death and where the Church of St.Demitrius of the
Blood was built and still stands today. Within the Kremlin is the oldest
building in Uglich, the Palace of Tsarevich Dmitry.
Yaroslavl
Stretching for 18 miles on both banks of the Volga, Yaroslavl is an important
Volga port with a population of 600,000. It was founded in the 11th century by
Prince Yaroslav the Wise and today retains many noteworthy monuments of its
colorful past. Of special interest is the magnificent 13th-century Spassky
Monastery ensemble, a group of majestic 17th century cathedrals, an elegant
rotunda and remnants of an ancient trading center. Loveliest of all is the
Church of Elijah the Prophet, situated in the town’s central square. The
frescoes on the walls and vaulting inside the church constitute a veritable
museum of old Russian paintings.
Goritsy
is a tiny settlement
seven kilometers from the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery. Visit what remains of
the Nunnery of the resurrection on the banks of the Sheksna River in Goritsy,
within a quarter of a mile of where the ship stop, will be interesting for any
tourist with a real interest in Russian history
Kizhi
Via the Volga/Baltic
canal, our cruise takes us to the tiny island of Kizhi, located at the northern
end of lake Onega. Renowned for its open-air Museum of Architecture assembled
from various areas of the country and restored to form a glimpse of the past.
Mandrogi. Green Stop..
In the village there are some structures built
according to the Russian fine traditions of wooden architecture. Village
dwellers meet the quests and organize something special for them. There is a
museum of Russian Vodka where tourists can get acquainted with the history of
Russian vodka industry ( payment on the spot). Remeslennays Sloboda,
walking in the picturesque woods.
Saint-Petersburg
created by Peter the Great to rival Venice, its 101 islands, 66 canals, and
hundreds of bridges have secured its reputation as the most beautiful city in
the country. While your ship is docked in port, you’ll enjoy daily sightseeing
tours. You will see the Nevsky prospect’s shops, cafes and theatres, and you
will tour the impressive St.Isaac’s, the city’s large cathedral, now a museum of
elaborate icons and artworks. We will spend time in the world famous hermitage
Museum, formerly the Winter Palace, home of the last six czars. A treasure trove
of three million exhibits, its 320 halls display DaVincis, Rembrandts, Titians,
Micheleangelos, French impressionists and North American artists.
Tours included in St
Petersburg:
CITY TOUR
Brief description of what you will see during city tour *( outside view): Nevsky
Prospect,Palace Square and Winter Palace+, Spit of the Vassilievsky Island,
University Embankmant, Main Building of the State St.Petersburg University,
Admiralty, Senat Square, Monument to Peter the Great (Bronze Horseman),
St.Isaak's Cathedral and St.Isaak's Square, Field of Mars+ and Summer Gardens+,
Cruiser Aurora, Smolny Cathedral.
HERMITAGE MUSEUM
One of biggest museums of the world, founded 1764; its collection includes
over 2.7 million items, including masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael,
Roden, Rembrandt, Rubens, French impressionists, etc. Gala room of the Winter
Palace, a former royal residence.
Optional tours in St Petersburg:
PETRODVORETZ (PETRHOFF)
The imperial
summer residence on the Gulf of Finland, 29 km from the city. At the beginning
of the 18th century palaces were built and parks with fountains laid under the
order of Peter the Greate to commemorate the victory of the Russian army over
the Sweden near Poltava. The highest fountain of Petrodvorets depicting Samaon
(21 m) was built as a symbol of the victory 25 years after the battle. The
tour of the BIG PALACE includes gala halls, residential rooms and suites. Here
art pieces of the 18th and 19th centuries such as paintings, clocks, chandelles,
dinners sets and decorative lacquer panels are displayed.
PUSHKIN (TSARSKOE SELO)
Located 29 km south of St.-Petersburg. the construction of the Catherine the
Great started in 1717. A park in the French style was laid out around it. In the
middle of the 18th century Tsarskoye selo became the official royal residence.
Not far from the Catherine’s palace there is the Lycem where the great poet
Alexander Pushkin studied. The Lyceum is open for visitors.
USUPOV PALACE
Built for the Yussupov family, which was considered the richest noble family in
Russia, the palace is a fine example of Russian architecture of the 2nd half of
the 19th century. Its facade is executed in the classical style. Its interiors,
including state rooms, palace theatre, private rooms of the Yussupov family are
decorated with the works by Rembrandt and Rubens, French tapestries and
porcelain, Venetian mirrors and wood carvings. The palace is also interesting
from the historical point of view. It was in the palace basement that Grigory
Rasputin was assassinated in 1916. Today there is an exposition recreating
atmosphere of the assassination in the basement
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