St Petersburg’s landmarks you will see during the Treasures of the Tsars tour are the legacy of the imperial times of Russia. Peter the Great, the first Russian emperor, founded this city in 1703 hoping to renew Russia into modern, rich and rapidly growing country and moving the capital here from Moscow in 1712 just confirms how important this new born city was for him.
Peter’s descendants, Russian emperors and empresses continued his mission, also paying a lot of attention to the city to become one of the most beautiful European cities in terms of architecture and style.
The Winter Palace was laid by Catherine II and served not only as a home for the tsarina’s family, but also as a gallery for a huge collection of art objects, which started the Hermitage, one of the largest museums in the world now. St Isaac’s Cathedral was almost built during the reign of Nicolas I, a grandson of Catherine II, and has been the main cathedral of the empire until 1917.
Cathedral of the Savior on the Spilled blood was completed during the reign of Alexander III, and by the times of Nicolas II, the city’s center appearance has been developed, as we know it nowadays. In addition several summer Imperial residences like Peterhof with a Grand Palace and impressive parks with famous fountains, Tsarskoe Selo with astonishing Catherine Palace and Pavlovsk, a cozy but elegant home estate, all of them were designed and done during the times of Empire.
We invite you to share with us a pleasure of visiting the main sights in St. Petersburg created during the times of the tsars and feel imperial atmosphere of this incredible city!
Our big city tour is the best way to know the history of St Petersburg through its gorgeous palaces and classic buildings of museums, wide avenues and granite embankments, big squares and little streets, cathedrals and drawbridges and feel the vibe of a European city in a country with two thirds of a territory lays in Asia.
We will see Nevsky Prospekt with its numerous palaces and the mighty Kazan Cathedral, admire the water panoramas of the Neva river from the Palace, Admiralty and University embankments, have a photo stops at the Palace Square, see the word famous Winter Palace, the former tsars’ residence and the Alexander’s Column and at a Spit of the Vasilyevsky island with well-known Rostral columns, heading towards the monument to Peter I, the founder of the city, the Bronze Horsman at the Senat Square. Several rivers and numerous canals cross the city and we will see Moika and Fontanka rivers, the Summer Garden, first park of the city and the mysterious Michael’s castle.
Another well-known places like the Theatre Square and the Mariinsky Theater, Arts Square and the Russian Museum, Naval Cathedral of St Nicholas, Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood and St Isaac’s square with the largest city cathedral of the same name, the battleship Aurora, symbol of the revolution will definitely impress you!
St Isaac’s Cathedral was the main cathedral of the Russian Empire and now is the fourth largest cathedral in the world. It was named after Saint Isaac, the patron saint of Peter the Great on whose day the emperor was born. In 1710 the first wooden church of Saint Isaac was laid, it was later rebuilt several times and by 1858 after 40 years of construction the cathedral how you will see it now was finished. It stands at the same name’s square close to the Neva river surrounded by the building of the Senat and Sinod, Mariinsky Palace and the monument to Nicolas I during whose reign it was built. This architectural and engineering marvel will impress you both from inside and outside. 48 columns weighted 114 tones each frame the cathedral from all sides, 14 types of marble and precious stones like malachite and lapis lazuli were used for interior decoration, mosaic icons and gilded elements are covering inside walls. The cathedral’s main dome rises 101.5 meters (333 ft) and is plated with pure gold. A breathtaking view at the city opens from the upper colonnade where you can rise by foot.
Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood is both an Orthodox church and a memorial monument, reminiscent of one of the tragic pages in the history of Russia, the fatal wounding of the Tsar Alexander II in March 1881 done by terrorists. The regicide shocked the whole country and soon it was decided to build a church on that site. The temple’s construction was started in 1883 and by 1907 it was completed. Despite the fact that the Savior on the Spilled Blood was built as a memorial temple in honor of the murdered tsar, its appearance is rather festive and bright and its architectural style can be called pseudo-Russian. To some extent, the temple resembles St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. The church is decorated with numerous figured platbands, kokoshniks, tiles, multi-colored tiles. The mosaic plays a special role inside the temple, occupying an area of 7065 square meters and this exhibition is one of the largest in Europe. It is not surprising that the Savior on the Spilled Blood is called the “mosaic museum”. Mosaic panels on evangelical subjects almost completely cover the walls, pylons, ceilings. The famous view of the temple opens from the Griboyedov Canal.
A tour to the Hermitage, one of the largest museums in the world, is actually a combination of two tours in one, on the one hand you will admire the masterpieces of painting and sculpture, on the other the ceremonial halls of the Winter palace, the former Tsars’ residence like the Throne room, The Nicolas hall, Field marshal’s hall, The Armorial hall, Malachite room, The White hall, Small dining room, Rutanda and many others.
The history of the Hermitage collection goes back to the times of Catherine the Great when she bought 225 paintings by Flemish and Dutch artists from the German merchant Johann Ernst Gotzkowsky in 1764. Now among the thousands of paintings, we can distinguish the following internationally recognized masterpieces as Rembrandt’s “The Return of the Prodigal Son”, Leonardo da Vinci’s “Madonna Litta” and “Madonna Benoit”, Raphael’s “Madonna Connestabile” and “The Holy Family”, Caravaggio’s “Lutenist”, paintings by Titian, Murillo, El Greco and many other famous painters. Also the Hermitage is proud to have one of the world’s best collections of French paintings of the late XIX – early XX centuries.
Boat trip can be ….
City tour
St Isaac’s Cathedral
Church of the Savior on the spilled blood
The Hermitage museum
Boat trip (optional)
Day 1
Our big city tour is the best way to know the history of St Petersburg through its gorgeous palaces and classic buildings of museums, wide avenues and granite embankments, big squares and little streets, cathedrals and drawbridges and feel the vibe of a European city in a country with two thirds of a territory lays in Asia.
We will see Nevsky Prospekt with its numerous palaces and the mighty Kazan Cathedral, admire the water panoramas of the Neva river from the Palace, Admiralty and University embankments, have a photo stops at the Palace Square, see the word famous Winter Palace, the former tsars’ residence and the Alexander’s Column and at a Spit of the Vasilyevsky island with well-known Rostral columns, heading towards the monument to Peter I, the founder of the city, the Bronze Horsman at the Senat Square. Several rivers and numerous canals cross the city and we will see Moika and Fontanka rivers, the Summer Garden, first park of the city and the mysterious Michael’s castle.
Another well-known places like the Theatre Square and the Mariinsky Theater, Arts Square and the Russian Museum, Naval Cathedral of St Nicholas, Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood and St Isaac’s square with the largest city cathedral of the same name, the battleship Aurora, symbol of the revolution will definitely impress you!
St Isaac’s Cathedral was the main cathedral of the Russian Empire and now is the fourth largest cathedral in the world. It was named after Saint Isaac, the patron saint of Peter the Great on whose day the emperor was born. In 1710 the first wooden church of Saint Isaac was laid, it was later rebuilt several times and by 1858 after 40 years of construction the cathedral how you will see it now was finished. It stands at the same name’s square close to the Neva river surrounded by the building of the Senat and Sinod, Mariinsky Palace and the monument to Nicolas I during whose reign it was built. This architectural and engineering marvel will impress you both from inside and outside. 48 columns weighted 114 tones each frame the cathedral from all sides, 14 types of marble and precious stones like malachite and lapis lazuli were used for interior decoration, mosaic icons and gilded elements are covering inside walls. The cathedral’s main dome rises 101.5 meters (333 ft) and is plated with pure gold. A breathtaking view at the city opens from the upper colonnade where you can rise by foot.
Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood is both an Orthodox church and a memorial monument, reminiscent of one of the tragic pages in the history of Russia, the fatal wounding of the Tsar Alexander II in March 1881 done by terrorists. The regicide shocked the whole country and soon it was decided to build a church on that site. The temple’s construction was started in 1883 and by 1907 it was completed. Despite the fact that the Savior on the Spilled Blood was built as a memorial temple in honor of the murdered tsar, its appearance is rather festive and bright and its architectural style can be called pseudo-Russian. To some extent, the temple resembles St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. The church is decorated with numerous figured platbands, kokoshniks, tiles, multi-colored tiles. The mosaic plays a special role inside the temple, occupying an area of 7065 square meters and this exhibition is one of the largest in Europe. It is not surprising that the Savior on the Spilled Blood is called the “mosaic museum”. Mosaic panels on evangelical subjects almost completely cover the walls, pylons, ceilings. The famous view of the temple opens from the Griboyedov Canal.
Kazan Cathedral, one of the largest churches in St. Petersburg, was built 1801-1811 by Russian architect Andrey Voronikhin and named after the icon of our Lady of Kazan displayed inside. It was the biggest church in the capital city till 1858 when St Isaac’s cathedral was finished. After the victory over Napoleon in Patriotic War in 1812, Kazan Cathedral acquired the significance of a monument to Russian military glory and the trophies were brought here: French military banners and the keys of 8 fortresses and 17 cities liberated by the Russians from French troops in Europe. The cathedral impresses with its mighty beauty, the semicircular colonnade consists of 96 columns made of travertine placed in four rows is facing Nevsky prospect. In front of the cathedral Voronikhin decided to place two statues, one belongs to General Mikhail Kutuzov, the head of Russian army during campaign against Napoleon and the other to General Mikhail Barclay de Tolly. Mikhail Kutuzov died soon after the victory in 1813 leading the Russian army to Paris and Alexander I commemorating his great military achievement ordered to bury him inside of the cathedral.
A tour to the Hermitage, one of the largest museums in the world, is actually a combination of two tours in one, on the one hand you will admire the masterpieces of painting and sculpture, on the other the ceremonial halls of the Winter palace, the former Tsars’ residence like the Throne room, The Nicolas hall, Field marshal’s hall, The Armorial hall, Malachite room, The White hall, Small dining room, Rutanda and many others.
The history of the Hermitage collection goes back to the times of Catherine the Great when she bought 225 paintings by Flemish and Dutch artists from the German merchant Johann Ernst Gotzkowsky in 1764. Now among the thousands of paintings, we can distinguish the following internationally recognized masterpieces as Rembrandt’s “The Return of the Prodigal Son”, Leonardo da Vinci’s “Madonna Litta” and “Madonna Benoit”, Raphael’s “Madonna Connestabile” and “The Holy Family”, Caravaggio’s “Lutenist”, paintings by Titian, Murillo, El Greco and many other famous painters. Also the Hermitage is proud to have one of the world’s best collections of French paintings of the late XIX – early XX centuries.
Day 2
Peterhof is the first suburban Tsar’s residence built in European style ever in Russia. Today it’s the world famous palace and parks architectural ensemble with a unique fountain system. Peter the Great founded it in 1710 after the victory over the Swedes at Poltava anticipating getting an access to the Baltic Sea as a result of the Russian victory in the Northern war. Later Peterhof was loved and cherished by many Russian Emperors and Empresses.
Nowadays Peterhof is the most popular museum in Russia due to a mix of diverse architecture represented by the Grand Palace and the smaller palaces like Monplaisir and Marli and entertainment and joy that more than 150 fountains together with a magnificent Grand Cascade bring. This man-made splendor is framed by the beauty of nature, the Upper and Lower Parks, as well as the Gulf of Finland, where the palace faces reminding us about its founder’s strive for freedom, openness and drive.
The Peter and Paul’s Fortress is famous for being the first building of St. Petersburg. It was founded on May 16, 1703 as the citadel of St. Petersburg, and this date is considered the birthday of the city. The lands where Peter the Great began to build the new capital of the Russian Empire were recently recaptured from the Swedes in the Northern War, and the fortress was supposed to protect the new city from possible attacks. The fortress is located on a small island in the Neva delta, has 6 bastions connected by brick walls 20 meters thick, and these characteristics made it very advanced for that time. For almost 300 years, Peter and Paul’s Cathedral standing in the center of the fortress was the highest building in the city with a 122-meter-high golden spire topped with an angel-shaped weathervane. It was the first cathedral of the new capital of Russia, and its interiors amazed people with the luxury of decoration, gilded wood carvings of the altar and crystal lamps, all this was very different from ancient Russian churches. In addition, the cathedral became the pantheon of all Russian tsars from Peter the Great to the last tsar Nicholas II.
St Petersburg is often called Venice of the North because several rivers and numerous number of canals cross the city in all directions, main rivers are Fontanka, Moika and of course, the main water highway of the city is the Neva river.
When warm winds and spring fleur are coming to the city one can enjoy a light and carefree journey over the rivers and canals where you can see absolutely fantastic views at the palaces, bridges, gardens and granite embankments and the city will show you its another dimension differs from the ground view. During the season of White nights in June and July boat trips either on a tourist boat or on a private speedboat can be extremely pleasant when the drawbridges are open during nights and you can feel so free and happy sharing St Petersburg vibes with your loved ones.
City tour
St Isaac’s Cathedral
Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood
Kazan Cathedral
The Hermitage museum
Peterhoff residence, the Grand Palace and the Lower Park with Fountains
Boat trip over rivers and canals
Day 1
Our big city tour is the best way to know the history of St Petersburg through its gorgeous palaces and classic buildings of museums, wide avenues and granite embankments, big squares and little streets, cathedrals and drawbridges and feel the vibe of a European city in a country with two thirds of a territory lays in Asia.
We will see Nevsky Prospekt with its numerous palaces and the mighty Kazan Cathedral, admire the water panoramas of the Neva river from the Palace, Admiralty and University embankments, have a photo stops at the Palace Square, see the word famous Winter Palace, the former tsars’ residence and the Alexander’s Column and at a Spit of the Vasilyevsky island with well-known Rostral columns, heading towards the monument to Peter I, the founder of the city, the Bronze Horsman at the Senat Square. Several rivers and numerous canals cross the city and we will see Moika and Fontanka rivers, the Summer Garden, first park of the city and the mysterious Michael’s castle.
Another well-known places like the Theatre Square and the Mariinsky Theater, Arts Square and the Russian Museum, Naval Cathedral of St Nicholas, Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood and St Isaac’s square with the largest city cathedral of the same name, the battleship Aurora, symbol of the revolution will definitely impress you!
St Isaac’s Cathedral was the main cathedral of the Russian Empire and now is the fourth largest cathedral in the world. It was named after Saint Isaac, the patron saint of Peter the Great on whose day the emperor was born. In 1710 the first wooden church of Saint Isaac was laid, it was later rebuilt several times and by 1858 after 40 years of construction the cathedral how you will see it now was finished. It stands at the same name’s square close to the Neva river surrounded by the building of the Senat and Sinod, Mariinsky Palace and the monument to Nicolas I during whose reign it was built. This architectural and engineering marvel will impress you both from inside and outside. 48 columns weighted 114 tones each frame the cathedral from all sides, 14 types of marble and precious stones like malachite and lapis lazuli were used for interior decoration, mosaic icons and gilded elements are covering inside walls. The cathedral’s main dome rises 101.5 meters (333 ft) and is plated with pure gold. A breathtaking view at the city opens from the upper colonnade where you can rise by foot.
Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood is both an Orthodox church and a memorial monument, reminiscent of one of the tragic pages in the history of Russia, the fatal wounding of the Tsar Alexander II in March 1881 done by terrorists. The regicide shocked the whole country and soon it was decided to build a church on that site. The temple’s construction was started in 1883 and by 1907 it was completed. Despite the fact that the Savior on the Spilled Blood was built as a memorial temple in honor of the murdered tsar, its appearance is rather festive and bright and its architectural style can be called pseudo-Russian. To some extent, the temple resembles St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. The church is decorated with numerous figured platbands, kokoshniks, tiles, multi-colored tiles. The mosaic plays a special role inside the temple, occupying an area of 7065 square meters and this exhibition is one of the largest in Europe. It is not surprising that the Savior on the Spilled Blood is called the “mosaic museum”. Mosaic panels on evangelical subjects almost completely cover the walls, pylons, ceilings. The famous view of the temple opens from the Griboyedov Canal.
Kazan Cathedral, one of the largest churches in St. Petersburg, was built 1801-1811 by Russian architect Andrey Voronikhin and named after the icon of our Lady of Kazan displayed inside. It was the biggest church in the capital city till 1858 when St Isaac’s cathedral was finished. After the victory over Napoleon in Patriotic War in 1812, Kazan Cathedral acquired the significance of a monument to Russian military glory and the trophies were brought here: French military banners and the keys of 8 fortresses and 17 cities liberated by the Russians from French troops in Europe. The cathedral impresses with its mighty beauty, the semicircular colonnade consists of 96 columns made of travertine placed in four rows is facing Nevsky prospect. In front of the cathedral Voronikhin decided to place two statues, one belongs to General Mikhail Kutuzov, the head of Russian army during campaign against Napoleon and the other to General Mikhail Barclay de Tolly. Mikhail Kutuzov died soon after the victory in 1813 leading the Russian army to Paris and Alexander I commemorating his great military achievement ordered to bury him inside of the cathedral.
A tour to the Hermitage, one of the largest museums in the world, is actually a combination of two tours in one, on the one hand you will admire the masterpieces of painting and sculpture, on the other the ceremonial halls of the Winter palace, the former Tsars’ residence like the Throne room, The Nicolas hall, Field marshal’s hall, The Armorial hall, Malachite room, The White hall, Small dining room, Rutanda and many others.
The history of the Hermitage collection goes back to the times of Catherine the Great when she bought 225 paintings by Flemish and Dutch artists from the German merchant Johann Ernst Gotzkowsky in 1764. Now among the thousands of paintings, we can distinguish the following internationally recognized masterpieces as Rembrandt’s “The Return of the Prodigal Son”, Leonardo da Vinci’s “Madonna Litta” and “Madonna Benoit”, Raphael’s “Madonna Connestabile” and “The Holy Family”, Caravaggio’s “Lutenist”, paintings by Titian, Murillo, El Greco and many other famous painters. Also the Hermitage is proud to have one of the world’s best collections of French paintings of the late XIX – early XX centuries.
Day 2
Peterhof is the first suburban Tsar’s residence built in European style ever in Russia. Today it’s the world famous palace and parks architectural ensemble with a unique fountain system. Peter the Great founded it in 1710 after the victory over the Swedes at Poltava anticipating getting an access to the Baltic Sea as a result of the Russian victory in the Northern war. Later Peterhof was loved and cherished by many Russian Emperors and Empresses.
Nowadays Peterhof is the most popular museum in Russia due to a mix of diverse architecture represented by the Grand Palace and the smaller palaces like Monplaisir and Marli and entertainment and joy that more than 150 fountains together with a magnificent Grand Cascade bring. This man-made splendor is framed by the beauty of nature, the Upper and Lower Parks, as well as the Gulf of Finland, where the palace faces reminding us about its founder’s strive for freedom, openness and drive.
The Peter and Paul Fortress is famous for being the first building of St. Petersburg. It was founded on May 16, 1703 as the citadel of St. Petersburg, and this date is considered the birthday of the city. The lands where Peter the Great began to build the new capital of the Russian Empire were recently recaptured from the Swedes in the Northern War, and the fortress was supposed to protect the new city from possible attacks. The fortress is located on a small island in the Neva delta, has 6 bastions connected by brick walls 20 meters thick, and these characteristics made it very advanced for that time. For almost 300 years, Peter and Paul Cathedral standing in the center of the fortress was the highest building in the city with a 122-meter-high golden spire topped with an angel-shaped weathervane. It was the first cathedral of the new capital of Russia, and its interiors amazed people with the luxury of decoration, gilded wood carvings of the altar and crystal lamps, all this was very different for ancient Russian churches. In addition, the cathedral became the pantheon of all Russian tsars from Peter the Great to the last tsar Nicholas II.
St Petersburg is often called Venice of the North because several rivers and numerous number of canals cross the city in all directions, main rivers are Fontanka, Moika and of course, the main water highway of the city is the Neva river.
When warm winds and spring fleur are coming to the city one can enjoy a light and carefree journey over the rivers and canals where you can see absolutely fantastic views at the palaces, bridges, gardens and granite embankments and the city will show you its another dimension differs from the ground view. During the season of White nights in June and July boat trips either on a tourist boat or on a private speedboat can be extremely pleasant when the drawbridges are open during nights and you can feel so free and happy sharing St Petersburg vibes with your loved ones.
Day 3
Before sharing with you details of the tour to Tsarskoe selo let us tell you a joke about the place we invite you to visit) The palace in Tsarskoe selo was built mainly by Empress Elizabeth but got a name of Catherine, wife of Peter the Great but was extremely cherished by another Catherine, a German born but very Russian by spirit Catherine the Great)
During the Northern War, these lands were conquered from the Swedes and Peter the Great presented them to his wife, the future Catherine I. She ordered to build a small palace here and it became an official tsar’s summer residence after her coronation in 1712. Under Empress Elizabeth, Peter’s daughter, the palace was seriously expanded by Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli and by 1756 acquired the look that you can admire today.
The Grand Palace is the brightest example of Russian Baroque. It is striking that with the length of the facade of 310 meters, it does not seem monotonous. The alternation of the protruding and recessed parts of the facade, the abundance of columns, the powerful figures of atlantes, the contrast between the white stucco decorations and the azure coloring of the walls create a harmonious rhythm of the entire structure. The halls of the palace amaze with their decoration, of different styles – baroque, neoclassical, but all extremely elegant and luxurious. During the guided visit you will adore the Big throne room, White and Chevalier dining rooms, Arabesque and Lion halls, the Palace chapel with its unique Prussian blue colour opened recently after the restoration and of course the famous Amber Room, a gift from Frederick I to Peter I, consisted of amber panels with diverse ornaments was placed in the Catherine Palace and was already considered the pearl of this summer residence. Unfortunately, its interior disappeared without a trace during the Great Patriotic War and was recreated and opened to public only in 2003.
During the construction of the palace, large-scale work on the breakdown of the park continued. The upper park adjacent to the facade of the Grand Palace was made regular, the rest is a classic English landscape park, completely man-made, but creating the illusion of the natural one. After a palace tour you will walk through the parks and gardens, enjoying beautiful landscapes and water panoramas of the big ponds.
The Alexander Palace was nother summer residence for the Imperial Family in the 19th century, but it became a real home for the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra Fiodorovna during the last 13 years of their reign. Walking through the rooms of its residential half, open to the public, you can get an idea how Nicholas II worked from here, from his Study room, decorated in the Art Nouveau style and feel how this palace became a sweet home for him, his wife and 5 children, daughtres Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia and son Alexey.
«Podvorie» is a famous Russian restaurant with traditional Russian cuisine
Pavlovsk, another imperial summer residence is located just 10 km away from Tsarskoye selo so it is quite logical to combine these 2 tours in one day. Though they are close on maps but absolutely different by atmosphere and style.
The Paul’s Palace built by Scottish architect Charles Cameron in neoclassical traditions in the 80s of the XVII century is the complete opposite of the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe selo. The palace looks more like an Italian villa small, very elegant, refined and was always loved by art connoisseurs for the stylish interiors and rich art collections. Pavlovsk became official residence for the son of Empress Catherine II, Paul, future Paul I and his wife Maria Feodorovna, who are rightfully considered co-authors of the palace decoration, because during their two-year journey in Europe they bought the best works of art (furniture, tapestries, paintings, porcelain, crystal lamps and numerous small items) to decorate their home. The palace grand halls like the Egyptian Vestibule, the Greek Hall, the Italian hall, the Throne Room are neighboring with more cozy private rooms of the couple and their 10 children.
Pavlovsk Park was designed as a classic English landscape garden, an idealized landscape filled with picturesque pieces of classical architecture, designed to surprise and please the viewer. Here you can meet the famous inhabitants of the park – squirrels. Don’t forget to grab a treat for them!
City tour
St Isaac’s Cathedral
Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood
Kazan Cathedral
The Hermitage museum
Peter&Paul’s Fortress and cathedral
Peterhoff residence, the Grand Palace and the Lower Park with Fountains
Boat trip over rivers and canals
Tsarskoye Selo, Catherine’ Palace and Amber Room
Tsarskoe Selo, Alexander’s palace (optional)
Pavlovsk, Paul’s Palace and park
lunch in traditional Russian cuisine restaurant «Podvorie»
Day 1
Our big city tour is the best way to know the history of St Petersburg through its gorgeous palaces and classic buildings of museums, wide avenues and granite embankments, big squares and little streets, cathedrals and drawbridges and feel the vibe of a European city in a country with two thirds of a territory lays in Asia.
We will see Nevsky Prospekt with its numerous palaces and the mighty Kazan Cathedral, admire the water panoramas of the Neva river from the Palace, Admiralty and University embankments, have a photo stops at the Palace Square, see the word famous Winter Palace, the former tsars’ residence and the Alexander’s Column and at a Spit of the Vasilyevsky island with well-known Rostral columns, heading towards the monument to Peter I, the founder of the city, the Bronze Horsman at the Senat Square. Several rivers and numerous canals cross the city and we will see Moika and Fontanka rivers, the Summer Garden, first park of the city and the mysterious Michael’s castle.
Another well-known places like the Theatre Square and the Mariinsky Theater, Arts Square and the Russian Museum, Naval Cathedral of St Nicholas, Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood and St Isaac’s square with the largest city cathedral of the same name, the battleship Aurora, symbol of the revolution will definitely impress you!
St Isaac’s Cathedral was the main cathedral of the Russian Empire and now is the fourth largest cathedral in the world. It was named after Saint Isaac, the patron saint of Peter the Great on whose day the emperor was born. In 1710 the first wooden church of Saint Isaac was laid, it was later rebuilt several times and by 1858 after 40 years of construction the cathedral how you will see it now was finished. It stands at the same name’s square close to the Neva river surrounded by the building of the Senat and Sinod, Mariinsky Palace and the monument to Nicolas I during whose reign it was built. This architectural and engineering marvel will impress you both from inside and outside. 48 columns weighted 114 tones each frame the cathedral from all sides, 14 types of marble and precious stones like malachite and lapis lazuli were used for interior decoration, mosaic icons and gilded elements are covering inside walls. The cathedral’s main dome rises 101.5 meters (333 ft) and is plated with pure gold. A breathtaking view at the city opens from the upper colonnade where you can rise by foot.
Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood is both an Orthodox church and a memorial monument, reminiscent of one of the tragic pages in the history of Russia, the fatal wounding of the Tsar Alexander II in March 1881 done by terrorists. The regicide shocked the whole country and soon it was decided to build a church on that site. The temple’s construction was started in 1883 and by 1907 it was completed. Despite the fact that the Savior on the Spilled Blood was built as a memorial temple in honor of the murdered tsar, its appearance is rather festive and bright and its architectural style can be called pseudo-Russian. To some extent, the temple resembles St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. The church is decorated with numerous figured platbands, kokoshniks, tiles, multi-colored tiles. The mosaic plays a special role inside the temple, occupying an area of 7065 square meters and this exhibition is one of the largest in Europe. It is not surprising that the Savior on the Spilled Blood is called the “mosaic museum”. Mosaic panels on evangelical subjects almost completely cover the walls, pylons, ceilings. The famous view of the temple opens from the Griboyedov Canal.
Kazan Cathedral, one of the largest churches in St. Petersburg, was built 1801-1811 by Russian architect Andrey Voronikhin and named after the icon of our Lady of Kazan displayed inside. It was the biggest church in the capital city till 1858 when St Isaac’s cathedral was finished. After the victory over Napoleon in Patriotic War in 1812, Kazan Cathedral acquired the significance of a monument to Russian military glory and the trophies were brought here: French military banners and the keys of 8 fortresses and 17 cities liberated by the Russians from French troops in Europe. The cathedral impresses with its mighty beauty, the semicircular colonnade consists of 96 columns made of travertine placed in four rows is facing Nevsky prospect. In front of the cathedral Voronikhin decided to place two statues, one belongs to General Mikhail Kutuzov, the head of Russian army during campaign against Napoleon and the other to General Mikhail Barclay de Tolly. Mikhail Kutuzov died soon after the victory in 1813 leading the Russian army to Paris and Alexander I commemorating his great military achievement ordered to bury him inside of the cathedral.
A tour to the Hermitage, one of the largest museums in the world, is actually a combination of two tours in one, on the one hand you will admire the masterpieces of painting and sculpture, on the other the ceremonial halls of the Winter palace, the former Tsars’ residence like the Throne room, The Nicolas hall, Field marshal’s hall, The Armorial hall, Malachite room, The White hall, Small dining room, Rutanda and many others.
The history of the Hermitage collection goes back to the times of Catherine the Great when she bought 225 paintings by Flemish and Dutch artists from the German merchant Johann Ernst Gotzkowsky in 1764. Now among the thousands of paintings, we can distinguish the following internationally recognized masterpieces as Rembrandt’s “The Return of the Prodigal Son”, Leonardo da Vinci’s “Madonna Litta” and “Madonna Benoit”, Raphael’s “Madonna Connestabile” and “The Holy Family”, Caravaggio’s “Lutenist”, paintings by Titian, Murillo, El Greco and many other famous painters. Also the Hermitage is proud to have one of the world’s best collections of French paintings of the late XIX – early XX centuries.
Day 2
Peterhof is the first suburban Tsar’s residence built in European style ever in Russia. Today it’s the world famous palace and parks architectural ensemble with a unique fountain system. Peter the Great founded it in 1710 after the victory over the Swedes at Poltava anticipating getting an access to the Baltic Sea as a result of the Russian victory in the Northern war. Later Peterhof was loved and cherished by many Russian Emperors and Empresses.
Nowadays Peterhof is the most popular museum in Russia due to a mix of diverse architecture represented by the Grand Palace and the smaller palaces like Monplaisir and Marli and entertainment and joy that more than 150 fountains together with a magnificent Grand Cascade bring. This man-made splendor is framed by the beauty of nature, the Upper and Lower Parks, as well as the Gulf of Finland, where the palace faces reminding us about its founder’s strive for freedom, openness and drive.
Fabergé Museum in Shuvaloff Palace
The Fabergé Museum in Saint Petersburg was opened in 2013 when Russian entrepreneur and philanthropist Viktor Vikselberg bought the Faberge collection from the heirs of Michael Forbes. The most famous 9 Easter eggs, commissioned to Carl Faberge by Alexander III and Nicholas II as the gifts for the most significant dates in Russian history, are of unprecedented value. The palace of the Shuvaloff-Naryshkins on Fontanka river was specially restored to accommodate the collection. Currently, the collection has more than 1,000 items. These exquisite pieces are not only examples of the highest artistic skill in jewelry art, but also illustrate all aspects of Fabergé’s oeuvre, including objects of fantasy, jewelry and accessories, silverware, precious haberdashery and decorative objects for interiors.
Day 3
Before sharing with you details of the tour to Tsarskoe selo let us tell you a joke about the place we invite you to visit) The palace in Tsarskoe selo was built mainly by Empress Elizabeth but got a name of Catherine, wife of Peter the Great but was extremely cherished by another Catherine, a German born but very Russian by spirit Catherine the Great)
During the Northern War, these lands were conquered from the Swedes and Peter the Great presented them to his wife, the future Catherine I. She ordered to build a small palace here and it became an official tsar’s summer residence after her coronation in 1712. Under Empress Elizabeth, Peter’s daughter, the palace was seriously expanded by Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli and by 1756 acquired the look that you can admire today.
The Grand Palace is the brightest example of Russian Baroque. It is striking that with the length of the facade of 310 meters, it does not seem monotonous. The alternation of the protruding and recessed parts of the facade, the abundance of columns, the powerful figures of atlantes, the contrast between the white stucco decorations and the azure coloring of the walls create a harmonious rhythm of the entire structure. The halls of the palace amaze with their decoration, of different styles – baroque, neoclassical, but all extremely elegant and luxurious. During the guided visit you will adore the Big throne room, White and Chevalier dining rooms, Arabesque and Lion halls, the Palace chapel with its unique Prussian blue colour opened recently after the restoration and of course the famous Amber Room, a gift from Frederick I to Peter I, consisted of amber panels with diverse ornaments was placed in the Catherine Palace and was already considered the pearl of this summer residence. Unfortunately, its interior disappeared without a trace during the Great Patriotic War and was recreated and opened to public only in 2003.
During the construction of the palace, large-scale work on the breakdown of the park continued. The upper park adjacent to the facade of the Grand Palace was made regular, the rest is a classic English landscape park, completely man-made, but creating the illusion of the natural one. After a palace tour you will walk through the parks and gardens, enjoying beautiful landscapes and water panoramas of the big ponds.
The Alexander Palace was nother summer residence for the Imperial Family in the 19th century, but it became a real home for the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra Fiodorovna during the last 13 years of their reign. Walking through the rooms of its residential half, open to the public, you can get an idea how Nicholas II worked from here, from his Study room, decorated in the Art Nouveau style and feel how this palace became a sweet home for him, his wife and 5 children, daughtres Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia and son Alexey.
«Podvorie» is a famous Russian restaurant with traditional Russian cuisine
Pavlovsk, another imperial summer residence is located just 10 km away from Tsarskoye selo so it is quite logical to combine these 2 tours in one day. Though they are close on maps but absolutely different by atmosphere and style.
The Paul’s Palace built by Scottish architect Charles Cameron in neoclassical traditions in the 80s of the XVII century is the complete opposite of the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe selo. The palace looks more like an Italian villa small, very elegant, refined and was always loved by art connoisseurs for the stylish interiors and rich art collections. Pavlovsk became official residence for the son of Empress Catherine II, Paul, future Paul I and his wife Maria Feodorovna, who are rightfully considered co-authors of the palace decoration, because during their two-year journey in Europe they bought the best works of art (furniture, tapestries, paintings, porcelain, crystal lamps and numerous small items) to decorate their home. The palace grand halls like the Egyptian Vestibule, the Greek Hall, the Italian hall, the Throne Room are neighboring with more cozy private rooms of the couple and their 10 children.
Pavlovsk Park was designed as a classic English landscape garden, an idealized landscape filled with picturesque pieces of classical architecture, designed to surprise and please the viewer. Here you can meet the famous inhabitants of the park – squirrels. Don’t forget to grab a treat for them!
Day 4
The Peter and Paul Fortress is famous for being the first building of St. Petersburg. It was founded on May 16, 1703 as the citadel of St. Petersburg, and this date is considered the birthday of the city. The lands where Peter the Great began to build the new capital of the Russian Empire were recently recaptured from the Swedes in the Northern War, and the fortress was supposed to protect the new city from possible attacks. The fortress is located on a small island in the Neva delta, has 6 bastions connected by brick walls 20 meters thick, and these characteristics made it very advanced for that time. For almost 300 years, Peter and Paul Cathedral standing in the center of the fortress was the highest building in the city with a 122-meter-high golden spire topped with an angel-shaped weathervane. It was the first cathedral of the new capital of Russia, and its interiors amazed people with the luxury of decoration, gilded wood carvings of the altar and crystal lamps, all this was very different from ancient Russian churches. In addition, the cathedral became the pantheon of all Russian tsars from Peter the Great to the last tsar Nicholas II.
St Petersburg is often called Venice of the North because several rivers and numerous number of canals cross the city in all directions, main rivers are Fontanka, Moika and of course, the main water highway of the city is the Neva river.
When warm winds and spring fleur are coming to the city one can enjoy a light and carefree journey over the rivers and canals where you can see absolutely fantastic views at the palaces, bridges, gardens and granite embankments and the city will show you its another dimension differs from the ground view. During the season of White nights in June and July boat trips either on a tourist boat or on a private speedboat can be extremely pleasant when the drawbridges are open during nights and you can feel so free and happy sharing St Petersburg vibes with your loved ones.
Yusupov Palace on Moika river is one of the most famous and luxurious palaces in St. Petersburg, belonged to the family of princes Yusupov, one of the most well-known aristocratic families in Russia whose wealth was estimated higher that the Tsar’s family. The interiors of the palace amaze with their decoration, style and luxury but the most unique about the palace is the home theater looks like a miniature copy of the French Grand Opera where Zinaida Yusupova, the last owner of the palace could perform her soprano in front of the guests including the Tsar’s family. A part of the palace exhibition is devoted to the story of the conspiracy against Grigoriy Rasputin and his murder organized by Feliх Yusopov in 1916. The palace was visited by the Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain while her official visit to Russia.
City tour
St Isaac’s Cathedral
Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood
Kazan Cathedral
The Hermitage museum
Peter&Paul’s Fortress and cathedral
Peterhoff residence, the Grand Palace and the Lower Park with Fountains
Boat trip over rivers and canals
Tsarskoye Selo, Catherine’ Palace and Amber Room
Tsarskoe Selo, Alexander’s palace (optional)
Pavlovsk, Paul’s Palace and park
lunch in traditional Russian cuisine restaurant «Podvorie»
Yusopov palace on Moika river
Fabergé Museum in Shuvaloff Palace
