Moscow:
Moscow is the barometer and nucleus of the changes sweeping through russia. Nowhere are russia’s contrasts more apparent than here ancient monasteries and ultra modern monoliths stand side by side, and ‘new russia” millionaires and poverty-stricken pensioners walk the same streets. But the real flavor of this city is in its nooks and crannies, each of them unique.
Red square:
Red square is a dramatic open cobbled space in the centre of moscow, originally the city’s market place that served as a public gathering place to celebrate festivals, listen to government announcements or to witness executions. The soviet state turned it into a memorial cementery, and constructed lenin’s mausoleum to one side and the resurrection gate and chapel on the other.
Kremlin:
The oldest part of moscow dating back to the city’s foundation in 1147, and situated at the very heart of the city on top of a hill, the kremlin is a fortress surrounded by a thick red wall interspersed with 20 towers. The complex consists of a number of including cathedral square with its annunciation cathedral, the belfry of lvan thegreat. The armory and the diamond fund exhibition.
St.basils cathedral:
St basil’s cathedral with its multicoloured domes is the most famous image of russia, standing on the edge of moscow’s red square.
Tretyakov’s gallery :
See the greatest collection of russian art.
The church of christ the savior:
This church built in the late 90s it’s the biggest cathedral in russia, and the most expensive one. It symbolizes the union between moscow government and the church.
Bolshoi opera and ballet theatre:
Moscow’s oldest theatre,the bolshoi dates from 1824 and is russia’s most famous theatre,with its world-renowned opera and ballet companies in residence.
Moscow metro and metro stations:
The moscow metro is an attraction unto itself, and well worth a visit just to view a few stations even if you have other transport. It’s showcasing some of the best architecture and know for its grandness. Opened in 1935 with one 11 km line and 13 stations, it was the first underground railway system in the soviet union. Currently, moscow metro has 182 stations. Its route length is 301 km approx.
Excursions From Moscow (North Eastern Ring):
Arkhangelskoye:
This accessible estate offers an excellent opportunity to appreciate aristocratic architecture and breath pine-scented air at the same time. Key attractions of the estate are the yusupov palace, italian-style gardens. The gothic bridge and the church of the archangel michael.
Sergiev Posad:
This town’s magnificent 14th-centuary monastery and its history as the holiest of russia’s orthodox shrines draws pilgrims from around the country ,and plenty of tourists from beyond, the town also claims to be the birthplace of the matryoshka ,the ubiquitous nesting doll. Visit the monastery, matryoshka shopping and wander the run-down but charming streets. See the trinity monastery of st.sergius, the cathedral of trinity, the cathedral of assumption as well as the town’s toy museum.
Suzdal & Vladmir:
Located 215 kms from moscow, suzdal’s conservative, tranquil beauty complements vladimir’s grand heritage, and together they form an ideal trip from moscow. Suzdal houses a fortress and a collection of riverside convents and monasteries that date back to the town’s heyday in the 11th to 13th centuaries. Vladimir, once a provincial capital more prosperous and holy than moscow, centers around its incomparable cathedral of the assumption.
St.Petersburg:
St.petersburg has been dubbed the venice of the north for its palace-lined waterways. Sculpted by island and the sinuous neva river, the city is a vista of geometric elegance. St.petersburg is a beautiful city of channels and impressive architecture, great historical heritage and vibrant cultural life, the home for many famous artists and poets, a symbol of russia on the baltic sea.
Winter Palace & Hermitage:
The Magnificent Green, White And Gold Winter Palace Is Superbly Situated On The Banks Of The Neva River, A Russian Baroque Building That Is The Biggest And Most Lavishly Decorated Palace In The City, The Hermitage Museum Is One Of The World’s Greatest Art Museum That Has Grown From A Small Collection Of Paintings Started By Catherine The Great In 1764, To A Massive Display Of Over Three Million Exhibits!
Palace square :
The main square of st petersburg and one of the world’s most magnificent plazas, palace square contains the picturesque baroque buildings of the winter palace and hermitage museum on one side and the classical yellow and white former general staff buildings of the russian army on the other.
Nevsky Prospect:
Almost 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 alexander nevsky monastery where some of the country’s most celebrated artistic figures are buried.
St.Lsaac Cathedral:
The golden dome of st lsaac’s cathedral dominates the skyline of st petersburg, the colonnade around the cupola offering superb panoramic views over the city. The russian classis style exterior encloses a splendid interior adorned with red granite columns, exquisite mosaics, painted ceilings, sculptures, frescoes, and a beautiful stained glass window with red.
Peter & Paul Fortress:
Situated on a small island on the neva delta across the river from the hermitage, the peter and paul fortress is the oldest building in st petersburg
Excursions from st. Pertersburg:
Pavlovsk & pushkin:
The park at pavlovsk outshines even its impressive palace, and is perfect for picnicking on a clear day. The town is named after the palace’s original ruler, czar paul l (pavel in russia). In a reflection of their charecters, paul’s summer home is as restrained and classical as his mother catherine the great’s summer getaway at tsarskoye selo (pushkin) is extravagant and baroque, the world-famousamber room-gutted by the nazis and recently meticulously reconstructed -is the major draw at catherine’s palace.
Vyborg:
For a journey into an entirely different era and mindset from st.petersburg and the imperial estates on its outskirts, head to vyborg. This 13th-centuary,cobblestoned city near the finish border has less glamour but more depth than peter the great’s capital. Key sights are the vyborg castle, the old vyborg district and the market square.
Peterhof (petrodvorets):
Unquestionably the number-one day trip from st.petersburg, peterhof lures visitors with its versailles-inspired palace, which overlooks a cascade of fountains and gardens opening onto the baltic sea. This scene is much better appreciated from april to october, when the grand cascade is flowing and the park is in bloom. Going to peter the great’s summer palace by ferry or hydrofoil enhanced the pleasure of the experience and takes about
Trans – Siberian Railway:
Part of the longest railway system in the world, the classic trans-siberian railway runs from moscow to vladivostok, a city near russia’s borders with china and north korea. Begun in 1891 by tsar alexander iii and completed by his son, tsar nicholas ii, in 1916, the line is known as the route of the tsars. Most travelers use the train as overnight accommodation from one destination to the next. The train features first-, second- and third-class sleepers, some with private bathrooms and showers.
Mount Elbrus:
Mount elbrus is located in the caucasus mountain range in southern russia. At 5,642 meters (18,510 ft), elbrus is included as one of the seven summits, the highest summits on each of the planet’s seven continents, attracting both experienced and novice mountain climbers. While the mountain was formed from a volcano, it is considered dormant, with no recorded eruptions. A cable car system can take visitors as high as 3,800 meters (12,500 ft), facilitating ascents to the summit.
Valley Of Geysers:
Situated on the kamchatka peninsula in the russian far east, the valley of geysers is the second largest geyser field in the world. The valley of geysers was discovered in 1941 by local scientist tatyana ustinova. Since then it became a popular tourist attraction in kamchatka and attracts a lot of interest from scientists and tourists.
Kizhi island:
Located in karelia, a region in northwestern russia that borders finland and the white sea, kizhi island is best known for its incredible open-air museum. Karelians have lived in the region since the 13th century, torn between the cultures of the east and the west. The museum’s collection features the 120-foot high church of the transfiguration of our savior, a structure made famous by its 22 domes. Other tourist attractions includes dozens of wooden houses, windmills, chapels and barns. The peasant culture is represented with craft demonstrations and folk ensembles.
St Sophia Cathedral, Novgorod:
Located in novgorod, russia’s oldest city, saint sophia cathedral is situated within the grounds of the city’s kremlin. Standing 125 feet high and adorned with five spectacular domes, the cathedral is the oldest church building in russia. Saint sophia cathedral features an array of ancient religious artifacts, including the mother of god of the sign, an icon that legend says saved novgorod from attack in 1169. The cathedral’s three famous ornately carved gates also date back to the 12th century.
5 lake Baikal:
Many travelers on the trans-siberian railway make plans to stop at lake baikal, the deepest and oldest lake on earth. Lake baikal holds around 20 percent of the world’s fresh water. Located in siberia, the 25-million-year-old lake is surrounded by mountain ranges. The lake is considered one of the clearest lakes in the world. Known as the pearl of siberia, lake baikal is home to several resorts, making the area a popular vacation destination.
Suzdal:
Once the capital of several russian principalities, suzdal is the jewel of russia’s “golden ring,” ancient cities that the country has preserved as living museums of russia’s cultural past. Those who wish to experience the best of russia’s historic architecture, full of onion-dome topped kremlins, cathedrals and monasteries, will find it in suzdal. Dating back to 1024, the entire city is like a large open-air museum that transports visitors back in time.
Moscow Kremlin:
The kremlin is a must-see attraction for anyone visiting moscow. Home to the nation’s top governmental offices, the walled enclosure also houses four cathedrals built in the 15th and 16th century as well as several notable museums. The 250-acre grounds include the armoury, filled with royal treasures of the past, and the diamond fund exhibition, a collection of jewelry that includes a 190-carat diamond given to catherine the great.
Hermitage Museum:
Founded in 1764 by catherine the great, the hermitage museum in saint petersburg, russia is a massive museum of art and culture showing the highlights of a collection of over 3 million items spanning the globe. The collections occupy a large complex of six historic buildings including the winter palace, a former residence of russian emperors.
Saint Basil’s Cathedral:
Built between 1554 and 1561 and situated in the heart of moscow, st. Basil’s cathedral has been among the top tourist attractions in russia. It is not the building’s interior artifacts that attract visitors, but rather the cathedral’s distinctive architecture. Designed to resemble the shape of a bonfire in full flame, the architecture is not only unique to the period in which it was built but to any subsequent period. There is no other structure on earth quite like st. Basil’s cathedral.