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Express to Russia » Tours to Russia » Russia River Cruises » St. Petersburg - Moscow (11 Days and 10 Nights)
St. Petersburg - Moscow (11 Days and 10 Nights)It is impossible to visit Russia without seeing its two largest cities: Moscow and St. Petersburg. Both these cities are rich in history, art, architecture and the food is pretty good too! By taking a river voyage, a ship can link these two great imperial cities of the czars easily for tourists. Moscow has a wonderful heritage of historic buildings and is known as the medieval and 20th century capital, while St. Petersburg is a dreamland of 18th century architecture and craftsmanship. Besides offering visits to sites of unique historical and architectural interest, these cruises afford a relaxing alternative to traveling by taking you along the Neva River, Lake Ladoga, the Svir River, Lake Onega, the Baltic canal, White Lake and the Volga River.
| Day 1 - 3 |
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St. Petersburg: Your journey begins as soon as you arrive in the city and aboard the ship. During your stay in Saint Petersburg you will be able to see the sights, do some light shopping and learn a few things about this incredible city through a city tour. You will also visit to the Peter and Paul Fortress - a symbol of St. Petersburg and the Hermitage Museum, the treasurehouse that contains over 3 million pieces of art with dates ranging from high antiquity to the present day.
St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg is Russia´s second largest and second most important city - the Northern capital of the country, Russia´s cultural center, and considered the world´s "Northern Venice" due to its extensive system of canals. Today, the city has a relatively healthy economy (as far as Russia is concerned), has the country´s largest and busiest port and a very high level of cultural life.
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| Day 4 |
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A green stop in Svirstroi.
Svirstroi: This is an authentic Russian village, situated on the river Svir, connecting the largest European lakes (Ladoga and Onega). The Sacred Trinity Monastery of Alexander Svirsky holds a fascinating history. Born in 1448, Svirsky became a monk at age 26 and later built this Monastery. After his death and burial at the Monastery in 1533, he was made into a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church. Later in the 1600s, lighting struck his burial spot three times and his body was found, miraculously still completely preserved. The cathedrals and ancient buildings of the monastery are a wonder, and what´s more is that Svirsky´s body has been preserved to this day and tourists are able to see it through a glass coffin - just like Snow White!
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| Day 5 |
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Arrival in Kizhi. You will be able to shop at the open-air museum and see tons of wooden architecture.
Kizhi Island: Via the Volga/Baltic Canal, our cruise takes us to the tiny island of Kizhi, located at the northern end of Lake Onega. The island is renowned for its open-air Museum of Architecture, which is assembled from over 80 monuments of wooden architecture from various areas of the country and restored to form a glimpse of the past. Moreover, the Church of the Transfiguration or Preobrazhenskaya (the twenty-two headed church) is a masterpiece of architecture, featuring five tiers of 22 domes, which wonderfully change colors during the day. The church was built in 1714 without the use of any metal nails, only an axe and pine trees.
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| Day 6 |
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Arrival in Goritsy. Tour of the Monastery of St. Cyril on the White Lake, visit to the museum of icons.
Goritsy: This is a tiny settlement 7 kilometers from the Kirillo-Belosersky Monastery. Here you can visit what remains of the Nunnery of the Resurrection on the banks of the Sheksna River, within a quarter of a mile of where the ship stops. Goritsy is definitely a site to see for any tourist with a real interest in Russian history. The Kirillo-Belosersky men´s monastery was founded in 1397 by Kirill Belosersky on the shore of Lake Siverskoye. The monastery had wide trade in the 15th to 17th centuries.
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| Day 7 |
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Arrival in Yaroslavl. You will be taken to the panoramic city tour with visit to the Transfiguration Monastery, territory of the Yaroslavl possad and Church of Elijah the Prophet. Interactive tour of the former Governor’s House (Art Gallery).
Yaroslavl: Stretching for 18 miles on both banks of the Volga, Yaroslavl is an important Volga port with a population of 600,000. It was founded in the 11th century by Prince Yaroslav the Wise and today retains many noteworthy monuments of its colorful past. Of special interest is the magnificent 13th century Spassky Monastery ensemble, a group of majestic 17th century cathedrals, an elegant rotunda and remnants of an ancient trading center. Loveliest of all is the Church of Ilya the Prophet, situated in the town´s central square. The fresco on the walls and the vaulting inside the church combined constitutes a respectable collection of old Russian paintings.
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| Day 8 |
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Arrival in Uglich. You will be taken to the walking city tour with visit to Kremlin, the Church of St. Demitrius of the Blood and Transfiguration cathedral.
Uglich: Founded in 1148, Uglich is one of the most beloved towns in Old Russia. The view of the town as you approach it from the Volga River is especially lovely with the Cathedral of the Resurrection and St. John´s Church looming on the horizon. At the end of the 16th century, Maria Nagaya, seventh wife of Ivan the Terrible, lived in honorary exile at the Kremlin in Uglich. It was here in her garden that the Tsarevich Dmitry met his death and where the Church of St. Demitrius of the Blood was built and still stands today. Within the Kremlin is the oldest building in Uglich, the Palace of Tsarevich Dmitry.
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| Day 9 - 11 |
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Moscow: Your journey begins as soon as you arrive in Moscow and board the ship. During your stay in Moscow you will be able to see the sights, do some light shopping and learn a few things about this incredible city through a city tour. You will also visit to the Kremlin, one of the cathedrals on its territory and Novodevichy monastery (territory).
Moscow: Russia’s political capital and financial as well as cultural center. The city includes many must see attractions from the Kremlin and Red Square to the Assumption Cathedral. Moscow is the largest city in Europe complete with everything one can expect.
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