DAY 1 USA , Minneapolis – Russia, PETERSBURG

Our pilgrimage to the Christian sites of Moscow and Saint Petersburg start with an intercontinental flight to Russia.

DAY 3 Sankt Petersburg city tour

After our breakfast, we will have a full day tour of this city of the Russians Tsars. Our sightseeing tour will take us to Palace Square and the magnificent Winter Palace, and to Saint Isaac’s Cathedral. We will see the Peter and Paul Fortress, Nevsky Prospect, Saint Basil’s Island, the famous Bronze Horseman, Smolny, as well as the city’s other highlights. Dinner and overnight in Saint Petersburg.

DAY 4 Sankt Petersburg city tour

On our schedule for today is Alexander Nevsky Abbey, a monastery and a 19th-century Necropolis, containing the graves of many world-famous Russian writers, composers and sculptors. We will then visit The Hermitage, also known as the Winter Palace (previously the residence of the imperial family). The Hermitage contains over three million exhibits and possesses one of the best art collections in the world. The gallery is most famous for its collection of West European art, with paintings by Monet, Cezanne, Renoir, Picasso, da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rubens and Rembrandt. Dinner and overnight in Saint Petersburg.

DAY 5 Sankt Petersburg – Pavlovsk, excursion

Today we will have a half day excursion to Pavlovsk, a royal summer estate. The land was originally used as royal hunting grounds. The site was given by Catherine the Great to her son Paul I in 1777. The classical style palace was designed by Cameron and completed by Brenna and Rossi. After Paul’s accession to the throne in 1796 it was used as an official imperial residence. Later we will visit Tsarskoe Selo (formerly known as Pushkin). The estate boasts a large landscape park, dotted with architectural follies, and centered on the magnificent blue, white and gold Catherine Palace. Dinner and overnight in Saint Petersburg

DAY 6 Sankt Petersburg – Novogrod, excursion

Today we are on an entire day excursion to visit to city Novgorod, about 130 miles south of Saint Petersburg. For several centuries it was the capital of Novgorodian Republic, one of the mighty principalities of Old Russia. We will visit its ancient Kremlin with its famous Sophia Cathedral and its masterpiece icons, the Cathedral of Saint George at the Yuriev Monastery, and the Museum of Wooden Architecture. We will then drive back to Saint Petersburg along the Volkhov River. Dinner and overnight in Saint Petersburg.

DAY 7 Sankt Petersburg – Petrhof (Pushkin)

Today we are on a half day tour of Peterhof, 18 miles from Saint Petersburg. Set in magnificent gardens, Peterhof is reminiscent of Versailles and was only used by royalty for state occasions. The Grand Palace was built for Peter the Great, enlarged for Empress Elizabeth and remodeled for Catherine the Great. In the afternoon, our group will have some free time before our last night in Saint Petersburg.

DAY 8 Saint Petersburg – Moscow

In the morning there will be some free time before leaving for to the Saint Petersburg train station. We will board the Aurora train for Moscow. We will have an evening arrival in Moscow followed by our transfer to the hotel.

DAY 9 Moscow – Arbat Street & Museum

This morning we will visit Tretyakov gallery known for its world-famous collection of ancient Russian icons. Its collection includes about 47,000 Russian works of art. Later in the afternoon we will have a chance to walk along the Arbat. Symbol of old Moscow, the Arbat is a pedestrian street filled with cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops and stands selling traditional Russian gifts, and artists on the street offering original paintings. At the end of the day, dinner is on our own before we leave for our hotel.

DAY 10 Moscow – Zagorsk

Today will include a full day visit to Sergiev Possad (Zagorsk). The town was founded in the 14th century and is centered on Trinity Monastery of Saint Sergius, one of the finest examples of early Russian architecture and the center of the Russian Orthodox Church. Among the greatest treasures is the white stone Trinity Cathedral, built in 1423, and the interior is crowned by icons painted by old masters. The monastery is home to the famous icon, The Trinity, by Andrei Rublev. Return to Moscow for dinner and overnight.

DAY 11 Moscow city tour, farewell dinner

After breakfast we will have a full day tour including the Museum of Icons and Christ the Savior Cathedral, the Kremlin with its Cathedral Square and the Cathedral of Assumption, where royal weddings and coronation ceremonies used to take place, and also the Cathedral of Annunciation and the Cathedral of Archangel Michael (Mikhail). At the end of the day we will leave for restaurant for our farewell dinner, return to hotel for packing and last overnight in Moscow.

DAY 12 Moscow - USA

After breakfast we will transfer to the Moscow International airport for our flight back home to USA.

RATES

• departure from MSP - JFK - LAX - IAD.....
• single room add on ......US$
  

INCLUDES

• round trip air fares USA - St. Petersburg; Moscow - USA
• airport tax
• accomodations in double rooms,
• 4 star, FIRST CLASS hotels in Moscow and St. Petersburg
• escort and local English speaking guides
• breakfast and dinner daily
• excursions according to the itinerary
• Aurora train tickets Petersburg - Moscow
• entrance fees acording the itinerary
• porterage of one piece of luggage
• farewell lunch in restaurant with russian cuisine

NOT INCLUDED

• visa for Russia
• tips for guides and drivers
• one dinner on night free in Moscow, in Arbat street
• items of a personal nature
• travel insurance available and recommended by JeriCo Journeys
  
  

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