DESTINATION:
St Petersburg
Planned and built on a grandiose scale, Peter the Great's city has been likened to a Canaletto painting and is often referred to as the "Venice of the North". Founded in 1703 as a “window to the west”, it was designed to rival and even to emulate the great cities of Europe. The greatest architects of the day were brought to St Petersburg in order to achieve the bold vision of its founder, and majestic buildings were designed to adorn its vast boulevards, avenues, parks and squares.
St Petersburg spent centuries as not only the political capital of Russia, but as its cultural capital too - the city dazzles the visitor with splendid palaces, stylish monuments, magnificent façades and delightful bridges. Extensive renovations carried out in the years following the collapse of the Soviet Union have ensured that St Petersburg has regained its status as one of the most beautiful and celebrated cities in the world.
Recommended duration - 5 nights/6 days
KEY VISITS (Recommended)
- NEVSKY PROSPEKT – which stretches some 4½ kilometres from the gold-spired Admiralty building to the Alexander Nevsky Laura (monastery).
- PETER AND PAUL CATHEDRAL – where all the emperors and empresses from Peter the Great to Nicholas II and his family are buried.
- YUSUPOV PALACE – one of four palaces in the city which were owned by the fantastically wealthy Felix Yusupov, this astonishing treasury houses Venetian mirrors, porcelain and exquisitely detailed inlaid floors and carving. It was here in 1916 that the notorious Gregory Rasputin was assassinated.
- HERMITAGE MUSEUM – it was in the Hermitage Palace that Catherine the Great inaugurated the Imperial art collection that would eventually become the world’s largest art gallery. Of the approximately three million objects in the collection, only around five per cent are currently on display. Also falling within the Hermitage complex is the GENERAL STAFF BUILDING. It was renovated extensively in 2014 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of The Hermitage, and houses collections of Russian and European Decorative and Applied art, paintings and sculpture of the 20th century as well as Impressionist and Post-impressionist masterpieces.
- RUSSIAN MUSEUM – located in the Mikhailovsky Palace it contains one of the largest and richest collections of Russian fine and decorative arts ranging from 12th century icons to works from the early 20th century. The collection of Russian icons – though small – is of very high quality.
- CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION (Church on Spilled Blood) – a marvellous Old Russian-style church which was built on the spot where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated on March 1st 1881.
- ST ISAAC’S CATHEDRAL – the golden dome of the Cathedral dominates the city skyline and its lavish interior is now a museum although services are still held here.
- PETERHOF (Petrodverets) – one of the oldest of the summer palaces around the city, the Grand Palace is magnificently located on the shores of the Gulf of Finland. It is renowned for its extraordinary fountains.
- TSARSKOYE SELO (previously called Pushkin) – where we will visit the Baroque masterpiece that is the Catherine Palace, designed by Bartolomeo Rastrelli in 1748. He also decorated some 140 of its rooms including the magnificent Great Hall.
- PAVLOVSK – most famous for its immense landscaped park. With its gently sloping hills, miles of winding paths, meandering river and acres of wild forest, the landscaping is reminiscent of those by ‘Capability’ Brown. The Great Palace was constructed to designs by the Scottish Architect, Charles Cameron, in the 1780s.
ALTERNATIVE VISITS
- It may be possible to attend a Ballet or Opera performance at the renowned Mariinsky Theatre.