The Romanovs - 400 Years of Dynasty
Programme Overview
Duration: 12 days
This itinerary is linked to the 400th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. Beginning in Moscow where the Romanov dynasty was born in 1613, the tour continues to Yekaterinburg in Western Siberia where the dynasty met its tragic end in 1918 and on to St Petersburg, where most Romanov rulers lived in 18-19th centuries.
Highlights: Moscow, Zaryadye, Tolmachi, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, St Petersburg, Pushkin, Peterhof
Arrive Moscow
Arrival Transfer
Upon arrival at Moscow airport, meet you expert guides in the arrival hall and transfer to your hotel.
Evening activities
Visit the famous Red Square on a short orientation tour to view St. Basil’s Cathedral, Lenin’s Tomb and the glamorous GUM Department store.
Dinner
The tour will be followed by Welcome dinner (with open bar) at Moskovsky restaurant of the historic National hotel.
Meal Plan: D
Kremlin with Armoury museum and Grand Kremlin palace
Morning activities
Begin your full-day sightseeing tour with an early morning visit to the State Armoury to avoid the crowds. The armoury is the oldest museum in Russia and home to a collection of precious stones, masterpieces of 18th and 19th century jewellery and priceless artefacts dating as far back as the 14th century, as well as an impressive collection of carriages from the best Russian and European masters, precious fabrics, and royal gala clothes. The museum is also famous for its fine collection of Fabergé eggs.
The Armoury houses the collection of the Diamond Fund where one can see the most famous pieces of the Romanovs’ jewellery on display. Highlights of the collection include Catherine the Great's stunningly lavish coronation crown (also called the Great Imperial Crown), the world's largest sapphire, the famous Orlov Diamond, and a collection of gold and platinum nuggets.
Lunch
Enjoy lunch at the Godunov restaurant, very close to the Red Square and located in the chambers of the former 16th century Zaikonospassky monastery. The restaurant is known for its traditional Russian décor and cuisine
Afternoon activities
Continue your day with a visit to the magnificent Red Square. The focal point of the city, the square lies on the east wall of the Kremlin surrounded by a thick red fortress wall containing 20 towers all at various intervals. Originally allotted for a market, the square itself appeared around the end of the 15th century when Ivan III ordered all wooden buildings in the vicinity of the Kremlin to be demolished to protect the Kremlin from fires. Afterward stop at the New Maiden Convent, one of the city's most beautiful architectural ensembles with a long history behind its toothed walls.
Directly opposite the Mausoleum, on the eastern side of the square, lies the building which houses Russia's most famous shopping mall - the Main Department Store, GUM. Built at the turn of the 19th Century the complex boasts an elegantly-decorated interior, comprising of three parallel arcades, centred around a fountain and roofed by a splendid glass ceiling - magnificent! You should not miss the chance to taste the legendary GUM ice-cream.
Return to the Kremlin to continue your tour of the Kremlin Territory. For centuries, the Kremlin has been witness to many famous and tragic events in Russia’s past and has become a treasure trove of Russian history. Visit two of the Kremlin’s cathedrals: Assumption, the place of coronations and the burial church of religious leaders, and Archangel, the royal burial church.
By special arrangement, and after a security check, visit the amazing Grand Kremlin Palace with its magnificent Halls of St. George, St. Vladimir and St. Andrew (subject to cancellation at short notice in the event of State business). Also visit the 16th century part of the Terem Palace, the living quarters of Ivan the Terrible.
Dinner is at leisure.
Meal Plan: B,L
Romanov Chambers and Tretyakov Gallery
Morning activities
Begin your day with a visit to the Romanov Chambers located in Zaryadye, the oldest trading settlement outside the Kremlin walls. It is a genuinely fascinating and appealing museum that gives an unusually complete glimpse of a world unknown to most Russians, let alone foreign visitors. Since 1859, it has operated as a museum, one of the first in city, offering visitors an opportunity to experience aristocratic life of Russian boyars in the Moscow of the Middle Ages.
Afterwards visit the Tretyakov Gallery, containing the best collection of Russian art in the world. Reopened in 1995 after a nine-year renovation, it houses an outstanding display of pre-revolutionary Russian art as well as an extensive collection of icons.
You have a unique chance to visit the museum cathedral of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi, which is part of the Tretyakov Art Gallery. There you will listen to church hymns sung by the St. Nicholas Spiritual Choir of the Tretyakov Art Gallery. St. Nicholas Choir of the Tretyakov Art Gallery has won the reputation as one of the best choirs of Russia. The choir is remarkable for its high vocal culture, perfect performance, convincingness of interpretation. The choir performs Russian church musical pieces.
Lunch: Artist Gallery
For lunch today we recommend a very special restaurant – Artist’s Gallery. Located in the building of the Tsereteli Art Gallery (a beautiful mansion of the late 18th century close to the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour) this restaurant is a marvellous place decorated with frescos, bronze bas-reliefs and mosaics of the famous Russian sculptor Zurab Tsereteli – President of the Russian Academy of Arts.
Visit the gallery itself featuring some very interesting pieces of contemporary art. See the composition dedicated to the perished family of the last Russia Tsar Nikolai Romanov.
Afternoon activities
Afterwards tour the famous Metro, constructed under Stalin. Travel on the trains seeing some of the most impressive and flamboyant stations that are veritable museum pieces in themselves.
Tonight you may wish to attend a ballet or opera performance at the world-famous Bolshoi Theatre which has recently re-opened after six long year of restoration.
Meal Plan: B,L
Depart Moscow
Morning activities
This morning, after checking out of your hotel, depart for a visit to the Novodevichy Monastery, which has witnessed many turbulent events in the history of Moscow and the Romanov dynasty. Continue to the near-by Memorial Cemetery, the resting place of some of Russia’s most famous authors, artists, and politicians.
Afterwards visit the Arbat street for lunch at leisure.
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Kazan.
Meal Plan: B
Kazan
Morning Activities
This morning enjoy the tour of Russia’s “Third Capital,” Kazan. Founded in the 11th century, it is one of Russia’s oldest centres of culture, science, and trade. An architectural tour introduces us to the enormous and eclectic Kremlin, including the Kul-Sharif Mosque, one of the largest in Europe; and the 16th-century Annunciation Cathedral. A highlight will be lunch with a faculty and students of Kazan University, followed by a Tatar folk music concert.
Enjoy the evening at leisure
Meal Plan: B,L
Yekaterinburg
Morning Activities
This morning fly to Yekaterinburg, Russia’s borderline between Europe and Asia.
Explore Yekaterinburg on a city orientation tour. Visit the main historical sights: the Historical Square where in 1723 the main Ural plant was built along the oldest hydraulic engineering work, the first plant dam, and the places that are connected with the name of the First Russian President - Boris Yeltsin. As well as the merchant’s mansions of gold-fever time, you will also see modern shopping centers, the theatrical quarter and the University. The highlight of the tour will be a visit to the newly built Cathedral on Spilled Blood, dedicated to the family of the last Romanovs.
Check in at your hotel.
Afternoon Activities
After lunch visit “the Borderline between Europe and Asia” which starts in the eastern part of the city and continues into the western one. It runs through the Great Siberian (Moscow) highway to a column obelisk – the “Europe and Asia boundary” established on the crossroads of two parts of the world.
The borderline, that is decorated with semi-precious stones from the Ural mountains, is so thin that visitors will be able to take photos of each other standing with one foot in Asia and with another in Europe.
Evening Activities
Tonight enjoy a festive dinner at a local ethnic restaurant featuring local cuisine.
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Yekaterinburg
Morning Activities
This morning will be dedicated to the last days of the Romanov family. Visit the Memorial museum with its cellar where the actual execution of the royal family took place in 1918. Continue to the Cathedral in the Name of all Saints which has been recently erected in Yekaterinburg in memory of the tragic events.
Drive out of town to follow the memorial route and visit the sites where the remains of the royal family were excavated several years ago, as well as the Monastery of Saint Martyrs, the place of the Emperor’s initial burial.
At lunch meet with a local anthropologist who participated in the excavation works at the Ganina Yama site where the remains of the Romanov family were found.
Afternoon Activities
Continue in the afternoon to the Yekaterinburg picture gallery to view the amazing Kasli cast-iron pavilion. This pavilion was produced at Kasli factory in 1900, which was a famous center of artistic cast iron for Moscow and St. Petersburg in the middle of the 19th century. Continue to the "Historic Exhibition" Museum to view The Shigir Idol, the most ancient known wooden sculpture in the world - the radiocarbon dating gives an age of 9,500 years.
In the evening you may wish to attend a concert by The Ural Philharmonic orchestra or The Opera and Ballet Theatre
Dinner at leisure
Meal Plan: B,L
Yekaterinburg – St. Petersburg
This morning check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight to St. Petersburg.
Upon arrival in St. Petersburg meet your expert guides and transfer to your hotel.
Evening activities
Enjoy a cruise along the Neva and canals to see the landmark of the city and famous bridges.
The tour will be followed by a welcome dinner at your hotel.
Meal Plan: D
Peter & Paul fortress, St Isaac’s cathedral
Morning activities
Start your day with a morning lecture by a Russian historian Dr. Zoya Belyakova on the rise and fall of the Romanov dynasty.
This morning you will visit Peter and Paul Fortress. Located on Zayachy Island, it was designed to defend newly conquered lands obtained from Sweden. Formerly a political prison, it is now a museum. Members of the Romanov dynasty are buried in the cathedral of the same name. Afterwards visit St. Isaac’s Cathedral, whose gilded dome dominates the skyline of St. Petersburg. The cathedral’s construction began in 1818 and was not completed until 1858. Sculptures and massive red granite columns ornament the façade, while the interior is even more lavishly decorated with mosaics, icons and columns of malachite and lapis lazuli.
Lunch at Russian Vodka Room #1 restaurant
Enjoy lunch at a classic Russian restaurant with the widest choice of vodka in the city, carefully chosen hot and cold dishes, traditional vodka accompaniments and a Museum of Russian Vodka! Have fun at the museum before experiencing vodka and caviar tasting.
Afternoon is at leisure to explore St. Petersburg on your own
Evening activities
This evening enjoy a private visit to Hermitage museum after closing hours. The Hermitage occupies six magnificent buildings and houses 3 million pieces of artwork from the Stone Age to modern times. The main building and largest part of the museum is the rococo-style Winter Palace, residence of the Czars from 1762 to 1917. The museum was commissioned by Catherine the Great and she and her successors built the Hermitage collection in large part with purchases of the private collections of the Western European aristocracy and monarchy. By the time Nicholas II ascended the throne in 1894, he was heir to the greatest collection of art in Europe. The collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings will be covered with a local specialist guide.
Dinner is at the Russian Empire restaurant. Located at the former Count Stroganoff Palace, the dining rooms of Russky Ampir boast lavish interiors including specially ordered golden and silver dining sets. French Chef Florian Bourgeois cleverly combines the traditional taste of Russia with exciting French produce to create some of the finest dining in St. Petersburg.
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Catherine palace in Pushkin
Morning Activities
Journey to Tsarskoe Selo (renamed Pushkin in 1937 to commemorate the centenary of his death), to see the famous Catherine Palace and Parks situated 25 km south of St Petersburg. You may visit the summer palace, created for Catherine I, expanded and redesigned for Empress Elizabeth and remodeled again for Catherine the Great. The baroque Catherine Palace, whose exterior features golden domes and blue and white facade mouldings, suffered extensive wartime damage, but is today a masterpiece of restoration thanks to the reinstatement of the world-famous amber room enhancing the interior that gleams and glitters with mirrors, chandeliers and gilded woodcarvings.
Lunch at Podvorie Dacha Restaurant
Enjoy a traditional hearty Russian lunch at Podvorie Dacha which resembles a Russian terem (wooden palace): pickles, cold cuts, salads, borsch, and pancakes with ice cream). The restaurant is housed in a typical Russian log house and its interior is filled with wooden panels and bear skins hanging on the walls of the restaurant. The restaurant offers a relaxed, informal atmosphere. This restaurant in recent years has hosted President Putin’s birthday celebrations and is also renowned for its excellent and lively folklore performances.
Evening activities
Attend a performance of opera or ballet at the world-famous Mariinsky theatre.
Dinner is at leisure.
Meal Plan: B,L
Peterhof
Morning activities
This morning you’ll be taken to Peterhof Grand Summer palace; the great estate and artistic gem of Peter the Great, nestled on the shore of the Gulf of Finland (part of the Baltic Sea). After his victory over the Swedes at Poltava in 1709, Peter decided to build a palace “befitting to the very highest of monarchs” and a visit to Versailles in 1717 furthered these ambitions. Over 5000 labourers, serfs and soldiers were employed in the creation of this magnificent estate that was officially opened in 1723. Your fast track entrance to the Great Palace will allow you to avoid the queues and marvel at the Palace's lavish décor without the crowds. A prominent highlight is the Grand Cascade, a delightful sequence of 37 gilded bronze sculptures, 64 fountains and 142 water jets descending from the terraces of the Great Palace to the Marine Canal and the sea. The park features numerous palaces, summer houses and pavilions, including the Hermitage, specifically designed for holding Imperial dinner parties.
Return to the city by hydrofoil.
Have lunch and enjoy the afternoon at leisure
Enjoy some free time in the city centre. Nevsky Prospect offers a great variety of shops including historical Gostiniy Dvor, where the world famous brands are represented, and Passage Arcade. Little souvenir markets and kiosks are located almost everywhere but the biggest one is right opposite the Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood. A special visit to a porcelain store can be arranged to give you the opportunity to get acquainted with a St. Petersburg specialty – Lomonosov factory porcelain. Or, the group can be taken to a local art gallery where guests will find contemporary art inspired by the local talent.
Evening activities
Enjoy a Gala farewell Dinner at the Yusupov Palace, which belonged to Prince Felix Yusupov, who organized the assassination of the infamous Siberian monk Gregory Rasputin. Apart from its notorious fame, the palace has magnificent interiors. Admire a private performance of the opera and Ballet stars at the palace theatre before sitting down to an elegant farewell dinner in the room where parties of Russian Nobility took place before the Revolution.
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Depart St. Petersburg
This morning you will be transferred to the international airport terminal to take your home-bound flight.
Meal Plan: B