Itineraries and excursions 2016
“Sergey Rakhmaninov”
Moscow- St.Petersburg, 11 days
Day
Port of call
Program
1
Moscow
Embarkation
City Tour. Moscow is the capital of Russia; the most dynamically developing megalopolis.
2
Moscow
Our professional guides will lead you through this thrilling city and tell you some
interesting facts about its foundation and present-day life. You will see the main square of
the country, parade and concert grounds, Red Square, the GUM department store, Lenin’s
Tomb, the restored building of the Bolshoy Theater, Lubyanka Square with the former
KGB (now FSB) building, the rebuilt Manezh square, and the golden cupolas of the
Cathedral of Our Savior. The New Maiden Convent is picturesquely spread out in the
Moscow River bend and the building of MGU (the Moscow State University) on the
Sparrow Hills has a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. At the end of the tour, you
may choose to stay downtown or come back on board the ship.
Kremlin, and Cathedrals. Today you will have a unique chance to visit “the heart of
3
Moscow
Russia” – the territory of the Moscow Kremlin. It is one of the largest architectural
ensembles in the world, including monuments built over the time from the late 15th to the
20th centuries. Historically, the Moscow Kremlin has been the residence of power and today
it is the residence of the Russian President. The monumental walls and towers of the
fortress capture the look of ancient Moscow with the Kremlin’s golden-domed cathedrals,
old chambers, magnificent palaces, and beautiful office blocks. The unique museum
complex includes several cathedrals: the Assumption Cathedral, (the coronation place of all
Russian tsars), the Archangel Cathedral (the burial place of Russian tsars before Peter the
Great), the Annunciation Cathedral, the Tsar Bell, the Tsar Cannon, and Ivan the Great Bell
Tower.
Uglich, the town of rare beauty and tragic fate, was founded in 1148 and is situated in the
4
Uglich
place where the Volga river makes a sharp bend or “ugol” in Russian; which, according to
legend, is how the town received its name. During the walking tour, you will visit the
Uglich Kremlin Architectural Complex, which consists of 2 cathedrals, the Prince’s
Chamber, the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of our Savior, and, of course, the church of
the Tsarevich Dmitry on the Blood. At the end of the 16 century, Maria Nagaya, the
seventh and the last wife of Ivan the Terrible, lived in Uglich Kremlin while in exile with
her son, Prince Dmitry, and there in the garden he faced his death. Later, at the end of the
17 century, the church of Tsarevich Dmitry on the Blood was built to commemorate that
tragic event. Only here you can taste delicious Uglich cheese, drink pure Uglich water out
of the local water spring, and purchase the world-famous Uglich watch, the “Chaika.”
During the city tour of Yaroslavl, you will see and visit a lot of monuments and museums.
5
Yaroslavl
It is really worth seeing, as it is the largest city of the so-called “Golden Ring of Russia,”
founded even before Moscow (mentioned in chronicles from 1071). The city was named
after Prince Yaroslav the Wise, who, according to the legend, killed a sacred wild bear (the
pagan deity of local tribes) with his axe. Since those times a bear with an axe is Yaroslavl’s
coat of arms. During the city tour, you will visit the church of Elijah the Prophet, decorated
with frescos and icons dated back to the 17th century (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Other points of interest include the magnificent Savior Monastery ensemble dating from the
13th century, majestic churches of the 17th century, and the newly rebuilt golden-domed
Assumption Cathedral, which had been demolished after the revolution of 1917. You will
stroll along the embankment to the place where two rivers, the Volga and the Kotorosl,
converge and see an elegant rotunda.
Today our ship is docked at the pier of the small village of Goritsy, situated on the shore of
6
Goritsy
the Sheksna River. From there, we start our bus tour to the town of Kirillov to visit the
Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery (the monastery of Cyril of the White Lake). Goritsy has
attracted thousands of people since the canal has been open, due to the ensemble of the
Resurrection Nunnery situated not far from the pier at the foot of the Maura Mountain. The
nunnery was founded in 1544 by Efrosinya Staritskaya, the aunt of Ivan the Terrible. The
Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery is situated 8 km from Goritsy and is an object of a great
artistic and historical value. It was founded in 1397 by the monk, Cyril, who had come to
those lands from Moscow by the will of Our Lady. During the time of the flourishing (15th 17th centuries) many Russian Tsars and nobles used to visit the grounds of that monastery to
pray and to bring generous donations. In that very place, the father of Ivan the Terrible
7
Kizhi Island
8
Mandrogi
9
St. Petersburg
10
St. Petersburg
11
St. Petersburg
(Basil the Third) came to ask God for his heir. The monastery was not only the richest
cultural, religious, and educational center of the time, but also the most northern Russian
citadel which had never been captured by enemies. During the tour, you will visit the
territory of the monastery, museum exhibitions, and, of course, the small, functional church
of St. Cyril of the White Lake with his miracle- making holy relics.
Having passed through 6 locks of the Volga-Baltic canal, our Motorship will transverse
from south to north on one of the biggest lakes in Europe – Onega Lake, to take us to the
highlight of our cruise – Kizhi Island. This world-famous open air museum is under the
protection of UNESCO and presents a unique architectural style of northern Russia. It
comprises a remarkable array of wooden churches dated from the 9th-19th centuries,
including chapels, bell towers, peasant houses, granaries, hay store-houses, windmills, and
steam baths. In the center of Pogost, you will find a real masterpiece of wooden art - a 22domed wooden Church of the Transfiguration, which had been built, according to legend,
in 1714 by Master Nestor without a single nail. After he finished the construction, he threw
out his axe into the water of the Onega Lake and said, "There had never been and will never
be a church like that!"
The village of Verkhnie Mandrogy is situated on the shore of the picturesque Svir River
which is the only river connecting Europe’s largest lakes; the Ladoga and the Onega. This
village is one of the most beautiful and environmentally sound places in the Leningrad
region built in 1996 on the place of an ancient settlement as the original project of the
Russian national village. The tour will combine active leisure and fresh air with ancient
traditional Russian interiors inside the “traktir” or “izba” (tavern and house). You will also
venture to a unique Vodka Museum. During the stay you can visit Remeslennaya Sloboda
(an art studio) to get acquainted with the traditional Russian handicrafts of wood painting
(including Matryoshka doll painting), wood cutting, weaving, pottery and lacemaking. You will have a chance to take a master class in any of the craft shops. Both
children and adults will enjoy this activity and will take home some memorable handmade
souvenirs.
City Tour. During the bus tour of St. Petersburg, our experienced guides will show you the
main sightseeing attractions and tell you about the history of the city. You will drive along
the main street of the northern capital – Nevsky Prospect, make a stop on the “Arrow” of
the Basil Island, take pictures of the Bronze Horseman on the Decembrists’ Square
(formerly Senate Square) and admire the beauty of the largest single-domed cathedral of
Russia – St. Issak’s Cathedral. You will see a grandiose ensemble of the Palace Square, the
Field of Mars, Cruiser Aurora, and Church of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood, St.
Petersburg University Building and Smolny Monastery. The bus will also take you along
the most beautiful embankments of the city: Palace, University, and Peter’s embankments.
During the tour you will make several stops to have a relaxing stroll along the
embankments, to enjoy the city sights, and, of course, to take pictures.
Hermitage. Today you will have an opportunity to visit one of the best museums in the
world and the first museum in Russia – the State Hermitage Museum. This magnificent
museum presents art treasures and historical heritage of the East and the West from
Paleolithic times to present day. 120 museum halls accommodate permanent exhibitions
and are located in 4 different, interconnected buildings. During the tour you will get
acquainted with the history of the museum foundation, visit the reception rooms of the
Winter Palace, pavilions of the Small Hermitage, see the famous Peacock Clock and other
masterpieces of pictorial art, sculpture, and applied art, created by the greatest masters ever.
The exhibition culminates with a picture gallery, started by Catherine the Great who would
purchase private collections. Thus the collection includes “Judith” by Giorgione, “The Holy
Family” by Rafael, paintings by Botticelli, Rembrandt, Titian, Pussen, Michelangelo, and
many others. At the end of the tour, you will have some free time to enjoy a cup of coffee
on the ground floor of the museum or to buy memorable souvenirs.
Disembarkation
St.Petersburg-Moscow, 11 days
Day
Port of call
Program
1
St.Petersburg
Embarkation
City Tour. During the bus tour of St. Petersburg, our experienced guides will show you the
2
St.Petersburg
main sightseeing attractions and tell you about the history of the city. You will drive along
the main street of the northern capital – Nevsky Prospect, make a stop on the “Arrow” of
the Basil Island, take pictures of the Bronze Horseman on the Decembrists’ Square
(formerly Senate Square) and admire the beauty of the largest single-domed cathedral of
Russia – St. Issak’s Cathedral. You will see a grandiose ensemble of the Palace Square, the
Field of Mars, Cruiser Aurora, and Church of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood, St.
Petersburg University Building and Smolny Monastery. The bus will also take you along
the most beautiful embankments of the city: Palace, University, and Peter’s embankments.
During the tour you will make several stops to have a relaxing stroll along the
embankments, to enjoy the city sights, and, of course, to take pictures.
Hermitage. Today you will have an opportunity to visit one of the best museums in the
3
St.Petersburg
world and the first museum in Russia – the State Hermitage Museum. This magnificent
museum presents art treasures and historical heritage of the East and the West from
Paleolithic times to present day. 120 museum halls accommodate permanent exhibitions
and are located in 4 different, interconnected buildings. During the tour you will get
acquainted with the history of the museum foundation, visit the reception rooms of the
Winter Palace, pavilions of the Small Hermitage, see the famous Peacock Clock and other
masterpieces of pictorial art, sculpture, and applied art, created by the greatest masters ever.
The exhibition culminates with a picture gallery, started by Catherine the Great who would
purchase private collections. Thus the collection includes “Judith” by Giorgione, “The Holy
Family” by Rafael, paintings by Botticelli, Rembrandt, Titian, Pussen, Michelangelo, and
many others. At the end of the tour, you will have some free time to enjoy a cup of coffee
on the ground floor of the museum or to buy memorable souvenirs.
The village of Verkhnie Mandrogy is situated on the shore of the picturesque Svir River
4
Mandrogi
which is the only river connecting Europe’s largest lakes; the Ladoga and the Onega. This
village is one of the most beautiful and environmentally sound places in the Leningrad
region built in 1996 on the place of an ancient settlement as the original project of the
Russian national village. The tour will combine active leisure and fresh air with ancient
traditional Russian interiors inside the “traktir” or “izba” (tavern and house). You will also
venture to a unique Vodka Museum. During the stay you can visit Remeslennaya Sloboda
(an art studio) to get acquainted with the traditional Russian handicrafts of wood painting
(including Matryoshka doll painting), wood cutting, weaving, pottery and lacemaking. You will have a chance to take a master class in any of the craft shops. Both
children and adults will enjoy this activity and will take home some memorable handmade
souvenirs.
Having passed through 6 locks of the Volga-Baltic canal, our Motorship will transverse
5
Kizhi Island
from south to north on one of the biggest lakes in Europe – Onega Lake, to take us to the
highlight of our cruise – Kizhi Island. This world-famous open air museum is under the
protection of UNESCO and presents a unique architectural style of northern Russia. It
comprises a remarkable array of wooden churches dated from the 9th-19th centuries,
including chapels, bell towers, peasant houses, granaries, hay store-houses, windmills, and
steam baths. In the center of Pogost, you will find a real masterpiece of wooden art - a 22domed wooden Church of the Transfiguration, which had been built, according to legend,
in 1714 by Master Nestor without a single nail. After he finished the construction, he threw
out his axe into the water of the Onega Lake and said, "There had never been and will never
be a church like that!"
Today our ship is docked at the pier of the small village of Goritsy, situated on the shore of
6
Goritsy
the Sheksna River. From there, we start our bus tour to the town of Kirillov to visit the
Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery (the monastery of Cyril of the White Lake). Goritsy has
attracted thousands of people since the canal has been open, due to the ensemble of the
Resurrection Nunnery situated not far from the pier at the foot of the Maura Mountain. The
nunnery was founded in 1544 by Efrosinya Staritskaya, the aunt of Ivan the Terrible. The
Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery is situated 8 km from Goritsy and is an object of a great
artistic and historical value. It was founded in 1397 by the monk, Cyril, who had come to
those lands from Moscow by the will of Our Lady. During the time of the flourishing (15th 17th centuries) many Russian Tsars and nobles used to visit the grounds of that monastery to
pray and to bring generous donations. In that very place, the father of Ivan the Terrible
7
Yaroslavl
8
Uglich
9
Moscow
10
Moscow
11
Moscow
(Basil the Third) came to ask God for his heir. The monastery was not only the richest
cultural, religious, and educational center of the time, but also the most northern Russian
citadel which had never been captured by enemies. During the tour, you will visit the
territory of the monastery, museum exhibitions, and, of course, the small, functional church
of St. Cyril of the White Lake with his miracle- making holy relics.
During the city tour of Yaroslavl, you will see and visit a lot of monuments and museums.
It is really worth seeing, as it is the largest city of the so-called “Golden Ring of Russia,”
founded even before Moscow (mentioned in chronicles from 1071). The city was named
after Prince Yaroslav the Wise, who, according to the legend, killed a sacred wild bear (the
pagan deity of local tribes) with his axe. Since those times a bear with an axe is Yaroslavl’s
coat of arms. During the city tour, you will visit the church of Elijah the Prophet, decorated
with frescos and icons dated back to the 17th century (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Other points of interest include the magnificent Savior Monastery ensemble dating from the
13th century, majestic churches of the 17th century, and the newly rebuilt golden-domed
Assumption Cathedral, which had been demolished after the revolution of 1917. You will
stroll along the embankment to the place where two rivers, the Volga and the Kotorosl,
converge and see an elegant rotunda.
Uglich, the town of rare beauty and tragic fate, was founded in 1148 and is situated in the
place where the Volga river makes a sharp bend or “ugol” in Russian; which, according to
legend, is how the town received its name. During the walking tour, you will visit the
Uglich Kremlin Architectural Complex, which consists of 2 cathedrals, the Prince’s
Chamber, the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of our Savior, and, of course, the church of
the Tsarevich Dmitry on the Blood. At the end of the 16 century, Maria Nagaya, the
seventh and the last wife of Ivan the Terrible, lived in Uglich Kremlin while in exile with
her son, Prince Dmitry, and there in the garden he faced his death. Later, at the end of the
17 century, the church of Tsarevich Dmitry on the Blood was built to commemorate that
tragic event. Only here you can taste delicious Uglich cheese, drink pure Uglich water out
of the local water spring, and purchase the world-famous Uglich watch, the “Chaika.”
City Tour. Moscow is the capital of Russia; the most dynamically developing megalopolis.
Our professional guides will lead you through this thrilling city and tell you some
interesting facts about its foundation and present-day life. You will see the main square of
the country, parade and concert grounds, Red Square, the GUM department store, Lenin’s
Tomb, the restored building of the Bolshoy Theater, Lubyanka Square with the former
KGB (now FSB) building, the rebuilt Manezh square, and the golden cupolas of the
Cathedral of Our Savior. The New Maiden Convent is picturesquely spread out in the
Moscow River bend and the building of MGU (the Moscow State University) on the
Sparrow Hills has a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. At the end of the tour, you
may choose to stay downtown or come back on board the ship.
Kremlin, and Cathedrals. Today you will have a unique chance to visit “the heart of
Russia” – the territory of the Moscow Kremlin. It is one of the largest architectural
ensembles in the world, including monuments built over the time from the late 15th to the
20th centuries. Historically, the Moscow Kremlin has been the residence of power and today
it is the residence of the Russian President. The monumental walls and towers of the
fortress capture the look of ancient Moscow with the Kremlin’s golden-domed cathedrals,
old chambers, magnificent palaces, and beautiful office blocks. The unique museum
complex includes several cathedrals: the Assumption Cathedral, (the coronation place of all
Russian tsars), the Archangel Cathedral (the burial place of Russian tsars before Peter the
Great), the Annunciation Cathedral, the Tsar Bell, the Tsar Cannon, and Ivan the Great Bell
Tower.
Disembarkation