Treasures of St. Petersburg & the Russian Countryside

Arrive in St. Petersburg.  Your guide will meet you at the Pulkovo-2 Airport and take you, by coach, across the Russian countryside to your hotel in the town of Pskov, southwest of St. Petersburg, near the Estonian border.  En route from the St. Petersburg Airport to Pskov, you will pass many small wooden village houses with lovely folk art decorations, and will have a wonderful introduction to Russian cuisine when you stop for lunch at a traditional Russian restaurant, known for its authentic local cuisine.  Arrive at your hotel in Pskov and enjoy a traditional Russian welcome of bread, salt, then check into your room; all double rooms will be suites with private bathrooms; all single rooms have private bathrooms, as well.  Take some time to unpack and settle into your room before dinner.  L/D Rizhskaya Hotel (3-star)

NOTE: Pskov’s strategic location at the confluence of the Velikaya and the Pskov Rivers made it an especially important trading center from the 10^th century or earlier, as it was part of the trading route that was said to run “from the Vikings to the Greeks.”  Believed to be founded by Viking Prince Rurik who established Novgorod, Pskov was the headquarters for the Medieval Teutonic Knights and served as the advance post for their conquest of Estonia and Livonia, as well as being one of the richest towns of early Russia.  Its six miles of fortifications withstood 26 sieges, and today you can still see its beautiful stone Kremlin with handsome towers.  

Pskov once had over one hundred churches; its early brick buildings and stone fortifications were the envy of the rest of Russia, and in the 16^th century, its architects were sent to Moscow to help with the construction of some of the great cathedrals and buildings there. 

Medieval icons from the famous Pskov and Novgorod schools of icon painting can be seen in many of the world’s most famous art museums.  Numerous important historic events occurred in Pskov, including the acclamation of Prince Alexander Nevsky for his defeat of the Swedes and his conquest of the Teutonic Knights in 1242; it served as the residence of Lenin for three months in 1900, during which he began his underground newspaper, “Iskra” (Spark); and the abdication of Czar Nikolas II in March of 1917.

Today’s excursion takes you through the lovely Russian countryside called the Pushkin Hills with white birch forests, open fields and small villages of beautifully decorated traditional houses. Visit Mikhailovskoye & Trigorskoe, the tranquil estates of the Pushkin family. This is where the famous poet spent much of his childhood, where he wrote many of his greatest works and where he spent his years of exile.  Later in the morning, stop at the Saint Hills Monastery, where the great poet is buried.  Enjoy lunch in a beautiful, traditional wood-carved restaurant.

Return to your hotel in Pskov to get ready for dinner with a local Russian family. [Note: we suggest that you take a small gift from the U.S. for your host family.]  B/L/D Rizhskaya Hotel (3-star)

Depart form Pskov and continue your exploration of the Russian countryside.  First thing this morning visit the Pechory Monastery, a functioning monastery know for its unusual fortified location, the exquisite blue domes of its church, sparkling with gold stars, its mysterious caves and peaceful beauty.  You will have an opportunity to visit the Holy caves with a monk from the monastery.   Later in the morning, travel to nearby Izborsk Fortress and have an opportunity to talk with the local people.  Have lunch at a charming traditional restaurant, where you will enjoy specialties that include peasant soup, pelmeni, pancakes and herbal tea.  Enjoy Folkloric entertainment.   Stop for a visit at the Mirogsky Monastery, with its amazing 12^th c. frescoes and icon-painting studio. Continue on to Novgorod where you will have a traditional welcome with vodka, bread and salt.  B/L/D Beresta (3-star)

NOTE: Novgorod is uniquely situated on the Volkhov River, with connecting waterway access all the way from Scandinavia to the Aegean Sea.  Because of this favorable geographic location, Novgorod became a rich trading center in the 9^th century, and was at its peak of importance from the 11^th to the 15^th century, during which time it was especially proud of its tradition of self-government.  Ivan the Terrible conquered the city in 1570, after which it declined in importance.  Novgorod retains its magnificent Kremlin (the walls and towers that once surrounded this rich city), several beautiful multi-domed Russian orthodox churches, monasteries, picturesque old streets and other ancient architecture, most of which has been recently restored to its former splendor.

Take a guided walking tour of the fascinating, historic center of Novgorod beginning at the many-towered Kremlin (fortress) whose ancient brick walls enclose the spectacular gold-domed 11^th c. Cathedral of St. Sophia, St. Sophia’s Belfry, the Archbishop’s Court, a handsome 15^th c. Clock Tower, the Chamber of Facets and the huge, bell-shaped Millennium Monument, built in 1862 to celebrate the 1000^th anniversary of the founding of Novgorod by the Viking Prince Rurik.  Cross the Volkhov River to explore the Yaroslav Trading Yard  (Medieval marketplace) for this important river trading center and the 11^th c. site of the palace of Yaroslav the Wise.  While Yaroslav’s palace is no longer standing, you will see several examples of 12th –17^th c. architecture, including the 12^th c. Cathedral of Nikolas the Miracle Worker, the Church of the Holy Women and several other ancient churches, built by rich Medieval merchants to “show off” their wealth and importance!  (In the middle ages, there were more than 200 churches in Novgorod, while there are just 30 remaining today.)

Enjoy lunch in a charming traditional restaurant in one of the Kremlin's towers.  Later in the afternoon, drive into the nearby countryside to visit the interesting Open Air Museum of Wooden Architecture, where you may step into the many peasant huts and churches brought here from area villages, a rare opportunity to see the traditional “stave” architecture of ancient Russia.  Continue on to visit the lovely 12^th c. Juriev (Yuryev) Monastery.  Throughout all the churches, monasteries and museums, you will see superb examples of the famous 15^th c.  Novgorod "School" of icon painting, known throughout the world as one of the most important sources for this art form.  B/L/D Beresta Palace Hotel (3-star)

Today travel into the countryside to Pushkin (Tsarskoe Selo) for a guided visit of the magnificent Baroque Catherine Palace, built for the Empress Elizabeth (daughter of Peter the Great), who named it for her mother, Catherine I (second wife of Peter the Great.   The palace was later rebuilt in the Baroque style by Rastrelli, the famous architect who would go on to design St. Petersburg's Hermitage or Winter Palace, it was modified again in the Classical Style for Catherine the Great (II) by the Scottish architect, Charles Cameron. ).   There will be some time to enjoy the impressive park that surrounds the palace.

As you approach Catherine Palace you will see the nearby Alexander Palace, commissioned by Catherine the Great for her grandson, Alexander I.  Designed by the famous Giacomo Quarenghi, it was the residence of Russia’s last czar, Nicolas II and his family, who lived there from 1904 until they were placed under house arrest in 1917.    Acres of gardens, pools, lakes, fountains, streams, and forest paths, little valleys, classical statues & monuments surround both palaces.

After lunch in a picturesque traditional restaurant, enjoy a stop in the country town of Pavlovsk, to have a guided tour of the estate of another of the Russian Imperial palaces near St. Petersburg, The Great Palace.  Built by Cameron in 1782-86, under the orders of Catherine the Great, it served as a summer home for her son Paul, later to become Czar Paul I.  Return to the hotel.  In the evening, a ballet performance at the Hermitage or Aleksandrinksy Theatre (TBA – depending upon availability).  B/L/D Neptune Hotel (4-star)

Enjoy the day at leisure.  Your guide will have many recommendations to make the best of this day.  You might consider visiting the Spy Museum, or go back to the Hermitage.  B/L/D  Neptune Hotel (4-star)

Depart St. Petersburg on your return flight home.  B 

If you are continuing on the Moscow extension, arrive in Moscow today.  Click here for details about the Moscow extension.