GLORIOUS RUSSIA

Day 1: Arrival Moscow

Arrive Moscow , after clearing your emigration and custom you will be  transferred to the hotel.Afternoon ,proceed for Moscow city sights ,. Moscow is the capital of Russian Federation and represents a unique set of old architecture masterpieces and modern high-tech buildings. If you want to know more about the history of the Russian capital, you need to take this City tour! In only a few hours, you will have a glimpse of its main landmarks, such as the Red Square, the Kremlin, the Victory Park, the White House, the Arbat, Cathedral Christ-the-Saviour, the observation platform of Sparrow hills, Lomonossov University and much more! It is an interesting and efficient introduction to Europe’s biggest city..Back to hotel .Overnight at Moscow .

Day 2: Moscow

Breakfast at hotel .Proceed for the visit of  Kolomenskoe Estate.The Estate Kolomenskoe is the former residence of Moscow dukes and Russian tsars. It is situated on the picturesque bank of the Moskva River. There, in calm natural environment, you can enjoy the stunning views of Moscow suburb. This museum-reserve comprises the Church of the Ascension, the restored wooden luxurious country residence of the Tsar’s as well as several monuments of the 16th and 17th centuries whose construction had significantly influenced the Russian architecture.  In 1994 Kolomenskoe entered the UNESCO World Heritage List and is now a favorite venue for the festivals and shows featuring scenes from Russian history.

Kremlin ,Visit one of the most well-known sights of Moscow – the Kremlin with its red brick walls and 20 towers holding their own unique history. Since its first construction in 1156 as a wooden fortress by the order of Grand Duke Yuri Dolgoruky, it has been rebuilt several times. The current appearance was formed in 1495 by the best architects of Russia and Italy. Today Kremlin is the residence of Russian President and the main symbol of the country, revered by all of its citizens.

Kremlin Armory Chamber is one of the oldest museums of the Kremlin. It was founded in 1511, but the construction of the present building dates back to the 19th century. Here you may find a priceless collection of ornate arms and weapons, the Crown Jewels of the Russian Tsars, their carriages and thrones, along with furniture, Royal gowns, jewelry and diplomatic gifts from the 12th to the 19th centuries. .Overnight at Moscow

Day 3: Moscow

Breakfast at hotel .,Proceed for the sightseeings  proceed to visit Izmailovo Kremlin.In only five metro stations away from the bustling center of Moscow, there is a cozy place with welcoming atmosphere of real Russian farmstead – Izmailovo Kremlin. It is a unique authentic complex that combines museums (museum of vodka, bread, chocolate, Russian toys), art workshops, markets, and a variety of different opportunities for entertainment. The architecture of the center itself deserves a special attention: the Kremlin is a very colorful, and inside the territory there are authentic wooden buildings in traditional Russian style. Moreover, it is the perfect place to buy traditional souvenirs like matryoshkas, stamps, hats, shawls and other garments.

 Next proceed for Novodevichy convent,Founded by Tsar Vasily III in 1524 the Novodevichy Convent is the oldest existing convents of Moscow. It is a breathtaking ensemble of fortified monasteries built for the women of the royal and noble families, among whom was the sister of Peter the Great Tsarevna Sophia. The Convent has faced a lot of troubles: from the attack of Napoleon to transformation into the Museum of Women’s Emancipation by the Bolsheviks. Today you have an opportunity to discover its  perfectly preserved interior decorations, frescoes, icons and tapestries which make it one of the most beautiful monasteries of Russia.

Metro tour ,If you wonder why Moscow metro is considered one the most beautiful in the world, this tour is for you! It constitutes a vast museum of underground palaces with impressive interiors, statues and reliefs, monumental and decorative compositions (paintings, mosaics, stained glass and painting) and numerous labyrinths. During the tour you will visit the most remarkable stations like Komsomolskaya, Kurskaya, Kievskaya and others, with the experienced guide who will bring you a full insight into their fascinating history. Overnight at Moscow .

Day 4: St Petersburg

Breakfast from the hotel ,check out and proceed for  Arbat street .Arbat Street is one of the oldest streets in Moscow. Originally it was a part of an important trade route and was home to a large number of craftsmen. In the 18th century Arbat became one of the most prestigious living areas in Moscow and then a place for the intelligentsia and artists to live. In soviet times young people used to held their meetings and protests here. The street nowadays reflects these eventful periods with its elegant buildings, a museum in the house of great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, a lot of nice shops, cafés and restaurants, an entire wall dedicated to the pioneers of Russian rock and the impressive building of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.Next visit – The Christ the Saviour Cathedral . This tour is a wonderful introduction to the most majestic and grandiose cathedral of Moscow. It was edified for the first time between 1839 and 1883, in memory of the Russian’s victory on the Napoleon I, in 1931 it was dynamited and reduced to rubble and then, in 2000 rebuilt again. And today among the necklace of Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is considered the main temple of the city. During the tour you will hear a lot of the little-known facts from its “biography” and admire the countless details of the stunning interior..proceed to  railway station for departure to  St Petersburg by Sapsan high-speed,Arrive St Petersburg . check in hotel .Overnight at St Petersburg.

Day 5 : St Petersburg

Breakfast at hotel . proceed for St Petersburg city tour During the tour, you will be taken to the most precious monuments of the city’s rich history and original architecture carefully preserved as the world cultural heritage. You will be able to hear amazing stories and to take fine pictures of the main architectural and historical sites like Nevsky prospect, the Kazan Cathedral, the Winter Palace, Vasilievsky Island, St. Isaac Cathedral, Peter and Paul Fortress, the Senate Square and the Palace Square. The 3-hour sightseeing tour will allow you to get a brief but bright impression of Saint Petersburg.

Next visit , the Peter and Paul fortress is home to several museums, which exhibit to everyone the splendid history of Saint-Petersburg’s foundation and growth. Here you may visit main museums like the Peter and Paul cathedral – the tallest building in the city center and the burial place of members of the Imperial family – the Grand Ducan Mausoleum, the Boat house, the Artillery Armory, the Mint, Engineering and Commandant’s house, guardhouse and many others. The fortress also used to be a political prison as you may see during a visit to its casemates, in the XIX in became the main political prison of Russia.

Hermitage Winter Palace,It is hard to imagine a trip to Saint Petersburg without visiting one of the most famous museums worldwide – the State Hermitage. Its priceless collection occupies 5 historical buildings of which the Winter Palace – the former residence of the Russian Royal family – is the most remarkable. Its rooms, decorated with marble and gold provide a fine background for the treasures of the Hermitage. You might be surprised to know that the collection of this unique museum contains over 3 million exhibits including the paintings of Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael and other famous artists; however the collections of the Egyptian, Oriental and Ancient Greek art should not be missed as well. You will be literally overwhelmed by the beauty of the museum and will never forget this magnificent and legendary place.

Finaly the day ends with a Cruise by Neva River and canals ,Saint-Petersburg is aptly called “North Venice”: a boat tour on its rivers and canals is an absolute must-do there. Breathtaking views from the water and bridges over the city architecture are really worth seeing. During this tour you will see all the main points of interest of Saint-Petersburg from water and hear the stories about its most famous bridges such as Anichkov bridge and Bridge with Golden Gryphons. You will travel along the canals and see such jewels of the city as St. Isaac Cathedral, The Church of our Saviour on the Spilled Blood and other places than will mesmerize you and make your visit to the city unforgettable .Overnight at St Petersburg .

Day 6 : St Petersburg

Breakfast at hotel ,proceed for Peterhof palace and park .Located on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, 34 kilometers from St.Petersburg, spectacular Peterhof attracts thousands of tourists with its parks, palaces and, mainly, fountains. Among the suburban parks, Peterhof is probably the most famous for its fountains and is thus frequently compared to Versailles. ‘The Samson’ of the Grand Cascade is the most powerful and magnificent one and thus has been made a symbol of the park. As a former residence of the Emperors, Peterhof is also the home of several palaces with the Grand Palace as its main landmark. It had been destroyed by the Nazis and then carefully restored as to exhibit the splendor of the Royal way of life. You will see the halls, brightly decorated with gold, marble and numerous mirrors. The beauty of Peterhof, its marvelous fountains and palaces has left nobody indifferent, and you will probably be no exception.

Next visit the Pushkin in Summer palace and park The Summer Palace is the heart of Tsarskoe Selo (Tsar’s Village) – one of the most picturesque parks among the former residences of the Russian Emperors. Here you may feel the atmosphere of the Royal way of life in its entire magnificence. It is hard to believe that almost everything inside the palace is a result of a careful restoration, which has been finished just 8 years ago. Nowadays the legendary Amber Room, where this precious resin covered the walls in a magnificent and shining style, as well as the radiant interiors have finally regained their former splendor after they suffered from severe damages during World War II. Today tourists from all over the world come to the Pushkin to see the marvelous park and the Catherine’s Palace, definitely one of the most impressive highlight of every visit to Saint Petersburg.Evening enjoy the Russian circus , Russian Circus traditions include clowning, juggling, bike stunts acrobatics, contortion, and animal acts especially bear acts, such as bears who juggle with their feet. .Overnight at St Petersburg .

Day 7: St Petersburg Departure