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| The Treasures of St. Petersburg & the Russian Countryside
September 4 - 15, 2002 for the
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICE of $2890 (JFK)
Single Supplement $295
Experience Peter the Greats Window to the West, magnificent St. Petersburg, along with two ancient, exceptionally interesting historic cities in the Russian countryside, Novgorod & Pskov, Medieval centers for much of Russias finest icon painting. Your Russian journey begins with a traditional Russian welcome ceremony in Pskov, once one of the richest towns in Russia, with six miles of stone fortifications that withstood 26 sieges & enclosed over 100 churches, many of whose architects were renowned throughout Russia. A guided walking tour will explore its marvelous 10th c. Kremlin; magnificent multi-domed 17th c. Trinity Cathedral with its 7-tier iconostasis holding many famous icons; the 17th c. Merchant's Chambers & Museum; & the impressive Alexander Nevsky Monument, with its marvelous view of the surrounding countryside, lakes & rivers, church towers & domes of Old Pskov. Tour the fascinating Pskov Archaeological & Historical Museum, housing an excellent collection of ancient silver, traditional handwork, embroidery, folk costumes, historic furniture, implements & its world-famous collection of 14th c. Pskov icons. Stop at a blacksmiths forge, to see delicate & quite complex works of art created in iron. Travel through the lovely Russian countryside of white birch forests, open fields & small villages of beautifully decorated traditional houses to tour Mikhailovskoye, the tranquil estate where the famous poet Pushkin wrote many of his greatest works. Later, visit Saint Hills Monastery, where the great poet is buried. Here in the countryside, visit Mirogsky Monastery, with its amazing 12th c. frescoes & visit the Icon Painting Studio. Tour Pechory Monastery, known for its unusual fortifications, the exquisite blue domes of its church, sparkling with gold stars, its mysterious caves & peaceful beauty, talk with one of the priests & visit the caves. Continue to nearby Izborsk Fortress & visit the Slavic Healing Springs. Try a banya (Russian sauna), if you wish. During your time in Pskov, there will be TWO PERFORMANCES: a Folkloric Performance & a Choir Performance, followed by a conversation with the Director of the Monastery. Travel to nearby Novgorod (WHS), like Pskov, a rich 9th -15th c. trading center also situated on a mighty river, with both cities part of the inland river trade route through Europe, from the Vikings to the Greeks! Begin your exploration with a guided walking tour of Novgorod & its majestic many-towered Kremlin (fortress) whose ancient brick walls enclose the spectacular gold-domed 11th c. cheap hotel in DresdenCathedral of St. Sophia, St. Sophias Belfry, the Archbishops Court, a handsome 15th c. Clock Tower, the Chamber of Facets & the huge Millennium Monument. Tour Yaroslav Trading Yard & palace site of 11th c. Yaroslav the Wise, with some of the churches remaining from the over 200 here in Medieval times. In the nearby countryside, visit the Open Air Museum of Wooden Architecture, where you may step into peasant huts & churches, a rare opportunity to see the traditional "stave" architecture of ancient Russia. Continue on to lovely 12th c. Juriev (Yuryev) Monastery, containing, as do the other churches in this area, superb examples of the world famous 15th c. Novgorod "school" of icon painting. Enroute to St. Petersburg, cross the Russian countryside dotted with attractively decorated cottages & arrive in Pushkin (Tsarskoe Selo) for a guided tour of the magnificent Baroque Catherine Palace, built for the daughter of Peter the Great. After lunch in a picturesque traditional restaurant, tour The Great Palace in nearby Pavlovsk, built by Catherine the Great. Both palaces are surrounded by acres of gardens, pools, lakes, fountains, streams, forest paths, little valleys, classical statues & monuments that make them delightful places to spend a day. Conclude your Russian journey in sophisticated St. Petersburg, set on the broad Neva River, & laced with lovely canals that gave it the title, Venice of the North. A guided city tour will include visits to magnificent St. Isaacs Cathedral, 19th c. architectural masterpiece graced with a golden dome; the Peter & Paul Fortress, with the tomb of Peter the Great; the Smolny Institute, headquarters for Lenin & the Bolsheviks; & Alexander-Nevsky Monastery, its Neo-Classical Holy Trinity Cathedral & cemetery where many of Russia's leading figures are buried. Tour Peterhof, the fabulous "Russian Versailles" & Peter the Greats summer palace, with golden statues, terraced fountains, elaborate gardens & gorgeous royal apartments. A guided walking tour will take you down Nevsky Prospect (Russias "Fifth Avenue") & along the canals to visit the spectacular Church of the Spilled Blood (an ornate exterior with "onion domes" & superb interior with 7,000 sq. meters of mosaics, icons & semi-precious stones). Visit the nearby Russian Museum, with exceptional art works). Tour elegant Yusopov Palace & the cellar where the infamous Rasputin was murdered, then cruise the Neva River & canals to see more of this beautiful city. Visit Vladimirsky Farmers Market with foods brought from all over the former Soviet Union. Spend the day in the famed Hermitage, one of the worlds greatest art museums, with a guided tour; enjoy a free day. TICKETS TO TWO ST. PETERSBURG PERFORMANCES ARE INCLUDED: Ballet in the Mariinsky Theater & a concert in the Alexandriysky Theater, TBA. Throughout the tour, you will have superb meals of Russian specialties often served in picturesque traditional surroundings, including a stave restaurant full of folk art, a beautifully hand-carved dining room, two lovely restaurants in kremlin towers, an old restaurant in the Peter & Paul Fortress, a St. Petersburg palace, a Pskov family home & a cruise on Pskov Lake to an island shashlik picnic; some of the meals will be accompanied by folk music & traditional songs. This exceptional tour offers many unique opportunities to experience the best of Russia St. Petersburg & the Russian countryside. |
