Two Day Grand Russian Historical Tour

Itinerary

Day 1: Grand Russian Historical Tour Day 1

Stop At: Kuznechny Market, Kuznechny Lane, 3, St. Petersburg 191002 Russia
Before the revolution, this territory was officially owned by the Vladimir Cathedral. On the site of the current Kuznechnyy market there was a market where peasants were trading products from neighboring villages. The first floor of the market is decorated with massive columns. The main entrance is built in the form of an arch, on the sides there are two male figures – a worker and a peasant with tools and sleeves rolled up. You will also find out what “dacha” is mean and what ties babushka and the matryoshka.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Grand Choral Synagogue, Lermonovskiy Prospekt 2, St. Petersburg 190121 Russia
The Grand Choral Synagogue of St. Petersburg is the second largest synagogue in Europe and has a fascinating history. From 1884 to 1888 the main construction took place and in 1888 the cupola of the Grand Choral Synagogue was decorated and the process of interior design began. On December 8, 1893 the Grand Choral Synagogue was officially opened and consecrated during a most lavish ceremony. You will learn the history of Jewish community and will get to know with their traditions.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: The Museum Complex The State Museum St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Isaakiyevskaya Sq., 4 Nevskiy Prospekt metro station, St. Petersburg 190000 Russia
This jewel of architectural art enthralls the art connoisseurs all over the world. The flawless silhouette of the golden dome is a symbol of the Northern Capital. St. Isaac’s Cathedral is one of the highest domed buildings in the world: its height is 102 m. The diameter of its golden dome reaches 22 m. It accommodates up to 12000 standing people, why people are standing – you will know while the excursion. Another interesting fact: after the Revolution – Saint Isaac Cathedral became the State Anti-Religious Museum (1931-1948), also there was situated the Foucault pendulum.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: The State Hermitage Museum, Palace Square, 2, St. Petersburg 191055 Russia
The Hermitage has more than 3 million exhibits; among them two paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, paintings by Rafael, Caravaggio, Rubens. You will see the most famous paintings by Rembrandt – «The Return of the Prodigal Son», «Danaë». Statues by Michelangelo, Canova; lots of historical interiors. You will enjoy the most famous halls, for example, the Pavilion Hall with the famous Peacock clock, the Jordan Staircase and many others. You will view with different collections located in the buildings of the Small, Big and New Hermitage.

The main building of the Hermitage complex – Winter Palace was official residence of Romanov dynasty. You will see the Grand Church of the Winter Palace where the wedding of Nicholas II to Alexandra Feodorovna (Alix of Hesse) occurred.
***Please, be informed, if you want to visit collections of Impressionist and Post Impressionist paintings, (Matisse and Picasso), they are exhibited in the General Staff Building. For visiting you need individual tickets.

If you want to visit the Treasure Gallery (Diamond or Gold Room), please note that you must book tickets one month before visiting. The tour will take an hour.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Peter and Paul Fortress, Petropavlovskaya Fortress, 3, St. Petersburg 197022 Russia
Peter and Paul Fortress and Peter and Paul Cathedral – a spot, from which the construction of Saint Petersburg began in 1703, also as known as the «Cradle» of St. Petersburg. Then it became the burial place of Russian Emperors and Empresses, including tombs of the Romanov family. Here you will find out why there’s a city legend that the Holy Grail is in the tomb of Peter the Great. You will see the Prison where the first well-known prisoner was Tsarevich Alexei, the son of Peter the Great by his first marriage.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 2: Grand Russian Historical Tour Day 2

Stop At: Catherine Palace and Park, Sadovaya St., 7 Tsarskoye Selo, Pushkin, St. Petersburg 196601 Russia
Tsars Village. Tsarskoye Selo has amassed the best specimens of the Baroque and Neoclassicism architecture. It was a summer ceremonial imperial residence whose construction was of national importance. Catherine Palace and surrounding parks were created by three Russian Empresses, that’s why Pushkin is formerly known as «The Tsar’s Village» (Tsarskoe Selo). Upon arrival to the palace, you will see the Golden Enfilade of staterooms, where Russian Tsars and Tsarinas received their guests and organized dances in gilded halls. You will visit famous Amber Room, which is also recognized as the eighth wonder of the world. It was created by German craftsmen and gifted to Peter I, and subsequently it was enhanced under the direction of Rastrelli. Along with the palace complex, parks are an integral part of the Tsarskoye Selo, the main of them – Ekaterininsky and Aleksandrovsky parks.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Peterhof Grand Palace, Razvodnaya St., 2, Peterhof, St. Petersburg 198516 Russia
Peterhof. Tour of the Grand Palace and Lower Park with Fountains. Peterhof was founded by Peter I as a suburban imperial residence after the victory over the Swedes at Poltava. The official opening of the new residence took place in 1723. The Grand Palace is the focal point at Peterhof, standing in the center of the gardens on a natural terrace, with a spectacular view down the Sea Chanel to the Gulf of Finland. The most spectacular constructions are the Great Cascade, with its impressive fountains and golden statue of Samson Rending Open the Jaws of the Lion, shooting a powerful jet of water 20 meters into the sky. All the fountains are supplied with water naturally by gravity without any pumps, which makes the garden unique considering everything you see there was designed in the 18th century.
Duration: 3 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.