Rasputin and Mysterious Saint-Petersburg Tour (4 hours)

Itinerary
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Stop At: Savior on the Spilled Blood, Griboyedova Kanala Emb., 2B/A, St. Petersburg 191186 Russia

Explore St Petersburg with a private guide on a 4-hour city highlights tour! Learn all about the city history as you travel around the city by private vehicle, and stop for photos and strolls near key attractions like the Church on Spilled Blood.

The church was founded in 1883 at the site of the tragic events - on March 1, 1881, Emperor Alexander II was mortally wounded here, on that day heading to the site of the military parade on the Field of Mars. His son, Alexander III, ordered to build a church at this place for regular services for the slain. That is why the name of the Savior on the Blood was fixed to the temple, although it is officially called the Church of the Resurrection of Christ. Not only Russians, but also residents of Slavic countries donated money for the construction of the temple. Total construction was spent 4.6 million rubles. After the revolution, the Cathedral of the Savior on Blood was closed and has not been restored for a long time. There were rumors that he was even going to disassemble. In 1970 he was transferred under the patronage of St. Isaac's Cathedral, which allocated 80% of the funds for restoration. In 1997, the Savior on Spilled Blood opened its doors to visitors as a museum, which contains a huge collection of mosaic icons.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Winter Palace of Peter I, Dvortsovaya Emb., 32 metro Gostiny Dvor, St. Petersburg Russia

The present building of the palace (the fifth) was built in 1754-1762 by the Italian architect B. F. Rastrelli in the style of a magnificent Elizabethan baroque with elements of French Rococo in the interiors. It is an object of cultural heritage of federal significance and a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the historical center of St. Petersburg. From the moment of completion of construction in 1762 to 1904, it was used as the official winter residence of the Russian emperors. In 1904, Nicholas II transferred the permanent residence to the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoye Selo. From October 1915 to November 1917, the Tsarevich Alexei Nikolayevich Hospital worked in the palace. From July to November 1917, the Provisional Government was located in the palace. In January 1920, the State Museum of the Revolution opened in the palace, which divided the building with the State Hermitage until 1941. The Winter Palace and Palace Square form the most beautiful architectural ensemble of the modern city and are one of the main objects of Russian and international tourism.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Peter and Paul Fortress, Petropavlovskaya Fortress, 3, St. Petersburg 197022 Russia

Located on the banks of the beautiful Neva River, the towering Peter and Paul Fortress dominates the skyline of St Petersburg. Built in 18th century, this amazing fortress is a must-see attraction for anyone interested in the city's rich history. The oldest building in St Petersburg, the grandiose Peter and Paul Fortress is the perfect destination for culture seekers and history buffs. Planned by Peter the Great as a defense against possible attacks from the Swedes, the fortress never served its original purpose as they were defeated before its completion, and the six bastions at its corners were turned into high security political prison cells. The notorious dungeons held many famous people, including Alexei, the son of Peter the Great, Trotsky and Gorky, and it is now a museum. Other buildings in the fortress house the City History Museum and the Mint. The midday gun is fired every day from the roof, echoing around the city from across the water. Also enclosed within the imposing walls is the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul, its distinctive golden needle-like spire visible throughout the city. The first church in the city to be built from stone, it has a richly decorated interior containing the tombs of every Russian Emperor since Peter the Great.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Nevsky Prospekt, St. Petersburg Russia

Almost three miles (five km) long, Nevsky Prospekt is one of the best-known streets in Russia and is the main thoroughfare of St Petersburg, starting at the Admiralty whose gilded spire is a famous city landmark, to the Moscow Railway Station and then to the Alexandr Nevsky Monastery where some of the country's most celebrated artistic figures are buried. It has been the hub of the city for centuries, cutting through the most historical part, and home to the most important sights in the city. As well as many churches the street boasts St Petersburg's finest shops and restaurants, old manors and impressive buildings, and a beautiful mixture of architectural styles from the different periods of its history.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Yusupov Palace on Moika River, Emb. Reki Moiki, 94 Entrance for individual visitors and small groups from Dekabristov Street, 21, St. Petersburg 190000 Russia

This ticket allows you to visit the Yusupov Palace and its special exposition "Grigory Rasputin: pages of life and death"; wax figures of the terrorists are demonstrated; you can see the figure of Rasputin in that very cellar where this powerful old man was killed.

On route, hear about the palace’s original owners, the Yusupovs, one of Russia’s wealthiest 18th-century families. The last Yusopov prince, Felix Yusopov, murdered Grigory Rasputin, the distrusted advisor to Russia’s Tsar Nicholas II and his wife, in 1916 — inside the palace itself. On arrival, use your pre-booked ticket to bypass the main lines and head inside with your guide. Ascend to the second floor, and explore the extravagant chambers, left as they were in the 1800s. Admire the Ballroom, Green Drawing Room, and theatre; and explore other, ground-floor rooms including the Turkish Study, where Felix played billiards and the Moorish Drawing Room. Then, see where Rasputin’s murder took place. Hear about the monk’s life, and learn about his gruesome death from the exhibits.

Duration: 2 hours