New Year in St Petersburg and Russian Christmas in Moscow
St Petersburg - MoscowOne of the great New Year’s Eve events of the world is the famous Tsar’s Ball in the Catherine’s Palace at Tsarskoye Zelo (Pushkin), one of the splendid imperial ‘summer palaces’ of St Petersburg. This event recreates the grand festivities of imperial Russia, and is an event never to be forgotten. The centrepiece of your week in St Petersburg, the Tsar Ball is complemented by a feast of concerts, opera and ballet at the Mariinsky Theatre, the Philharmonia and other illustrious performing venues. Enjoy performances by the Kirov Opera and Ballet, the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra and the St Petersburg Symphonic Orchestra, amongst others.
During a week in St Petersburg, the grand imperial city of the Russian tsars, you will be dazzled by the splendour of the Winter Palace and the overwhelming collection of the Hermitage Museum, the beauty of the tree-lined canals reminiscent of Amsterdam, the extraordinary ‘summer palaces’ and the European-inspired architecture of Peter the Great’s “Window to the West”.
After St Petersburg, the celebrations continue – with Russian Orthodox Christmas (7 January) in
Moscow. The dynamic and fast-changing political and economic capital of the country will also surprise you with its wealth of art treasures, including the Old Tretyakov, Armoury and Pushkin museums. No visit to Moscow is complete without a night at the theatre and you will enjoy a performance of the Bolshoi Theatre (Opera or Ballet) and a concert at either the Moscow Conservatory or the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall.
NB. Graham Abbott was originally advertised as the tour leader but, regretfully, has had to withdraw. We are delighted that Robert Gay, one of our most experienced tour leaders, has eagerly accepted our invitation to lead the tour.
The Hermitage in winter
ITINERARY:
Fri 26 December 2008: Depart Australia
Depart SYD/MEL/BNE on Cathay Pacific and Swiss via Hong Kong and Zurich. Overnight in flight.
Sat 27 December: Arrive St Petersburg
Afternoon arrival in St Petersburg and transfer to the Angleterre Hotel, superbly located on St Isaac’s Square and within walking distance to many important points of interest, including the Hermitage Museum. Evening welcome dinner with Graham Abbott and fellow music lovers. (D)
Sun 28 December: St Petersburg
A full day tour will introduce you to this magnificent city, first planned by Peter the Great and later embellished by the Tsars as a great European capital. Starting from St Isaac’s Cathedral and the Bronze Horseman, you will discover Palace Square, the Admiralty and Nevsky Prospekt, lined with grand palaces, department stores and the imposing Kazan Cathedral. After lunch, visit the Peter and Paul Fortress, where the city was founded in 1703 and the cathedral, where all the members of the Romanov dynasty are buried.
Evening concert / opera / ballet (details to be announced late-2008) (B,L)
Mon 29 December: St Petersburg
Morning visit to the Church of the Resurrection (known as the Church on the Spilt Blood) and the Mikhailovsky Palace which houses the Russian Museum, a superb collection of Russian art from the 16th to the 20th centuries. Afternoon at leisure. This evening, after an early dinner, attend a concert at the Philarmonia by the First symphony orchestra of Russia, conducted Vladimir Yurovsky. (B,D)
Program:
HUMPERDINK Hansel and Gretel,
opera music fragments
R. STRAUSS Songs for the voice and orchestra
WAGNER Parsifal,
opera-mystery symphonic suite
Tue 30 December: St Petersburg
This morning visit the Hermitage Museum, located in the former Winter Palace, and the Small and Large Hermitages. The museum houses the vast collection of artworks accumulated by the Tsars, along with the collections of several former leading aristocratic families. The morning’s guided tour will give you a general overview of the Palace complex and its famous collection, after which you may stay on in the gallery to enjoy its treasures at your own pace. (B)
Wed 31 December: St Petersburg
Day at leisure to prepare for the Tsar’s Ball at the Catherine’s Palace in Tsarskoye Zelo (Pushkin). This black-tie ball features a Grand Promenade through the palace chambers and the Amber Room; dinner in the Imperial Throne Room accompanied by symphony orchestra, classical balalaika orchestra, ballet and opera and is followed by spectacular fireworks in the grounds and entertainment through the night. For full details, please visit www.tsarball.com. (B, D)
Thu 01 January 2009: St Petersburg
Day at leisure (B)
Fri 02 January: St Petersburg
Journey out of St Petersburg to Petrodvorets (Peterhof) located on the Gulf of Finland. Inspired by Versailles, the Great Palace and surrounding park is probably the most famous of the imperial ‘summer palaces’. Evening concert / opera / ballet (details to be announced late 2008) (B,L)
Sat 03 January: St Petersburg
This morning depart for the Great Palace & Park in Pavlovsk, a superb palace and park ensemble of the late 18th - beginning of the 19th centuries which was used as a summer residence of the Russian emperor Paul I and his family. Troika ride in the forest (weather permitting). Evening at leisure. (B,L)
Sun 04 January: St Petersburg - Moscow
Morning flight from St Petersburg to Moscow. Transfer to the hotel. Afternoon at leisure.
After an early dinner at the hotel, evening performance by Bolshoi Theatre (Opera or Ballet) (details to be announced late-2008). (B,D)
Mon 05 January: Moscow
A full day tour will introduce you to Moscow, the vibrant capital of Russia. Visit Red Square, and the celebrated St Basil’s Cathedral, see the former KGB headquarters, the Russian “White House”, and the acclaimed Moscow University. From Sparrow Hills near Moscow University, enjoy a panoramic view over the city dominated by the famous Stalinist “skyscrapers”. After lunch, your tour concludes with a visit to the tranquil enclosure of the beautiful Novodevichy Convent. (B,L)
Tue 06 January: Moscow
Morning tour of the Kremlin, the “heart and soul” of Moscow. Its many treasures include the sumptuous Cathedral of the Assumption, the more intimate Cathedral of the Annunciation and the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great. Visit the Armoury Museum with its famous collection of Fabergé eggs, astonishing array of glittering jewels, robes, thrones and carriages, a telling reminder of the one time opulence of the Romanov Dynasty. Travel to the Kremlin on the Moscow Metro, an architectural and artistic masterpiece in its own right.
Remainder of the day at leisure to explore nearby Red Square, GUM Department store, and the Kitay Gorod area. Evening concert at the Moscow Conservatorium or Tchaikovsky Concert Hall (details to be announced late-2008) (B,L)
Wed 07 January: Moscow
This morning attend a Russian Christmas church service followed by lunch. Afternoon visit to the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, with an impressive collection of Western Art, in particular a large number of dazzling paintings by the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists. (B,L)
Thu 08 January: Moscow
In the morning visit the Old Tretyakov Gallery, devoted to the history of Russian Art and containing works of art ranging from precious medieval icons to the Russian School of the late 19th century. Afternoon at leisure. Farewell dinner in the evening. (B,D)
Fri 09 January: Depart Moscow
Transfer to the airport. Depart Moscow on Swiss and Cathay Pacific via Zurich and Hong Kong. (B)
Sat 10 January: In flight
Sun 11 January: Arrive Australia
Morning arrival in Australia.
YOUR HOTELS:
St Petersburg Angleterre Hotel ****
Moscow Marriott Aurora ****+
NB. Hotels of a similar standard may be substituted
