St Petersburg and Novgorod
1 October – 14 October 2012 (14 days)
with Professor Alexei Leporc and Helen Gavrilova
Founded by Peter the Great in 1703 as Russia’s ‘Window to the West’ and embellished by the later Tsars to rival the grand European capitals, St Petersburg is architecturally one of the best preserved cities of the 18th and 19th centuries and one of the great artistic, musical and literary capitals of the world.
Artistically, St Petersburg is epitomised by the extraordinary richness of the Hermitage and Russian museums, and the grandeur of the imperial ‘summer palaces’ of Peterhof, Catherine and Pavlovsk located outside the city, all of which you will visit. Musically, St Petersburg is home to the famous Mariinsky Theatre, the Philharmonia and the Mikhailovsky Theatre, where you will attend opera, ballet and concert performances. You will also go backstage at the Mariinsky, spend an afternoon at a ballet school, experience the renaissance of the Russian Orthodox Church and delve into the rich literary heritage of St Petersburg.
To introduce you to this extraordinary city will be your tour leader, Helen Gavrilova, and guest lecturer Prof Alexei Leporc, curator in the department of Western European art at the Hermitage. Following ten full days in St Petersburg, you will spend two days in the charming, nearby city of Novgorod, one of the earliest capitals of ‘Old Rus’ and rich in medieval art and architecture.
NB. We have specially chosen the ‘shoulder season’ of early October for this tour as the museums will be free of the summer tourist crowds, hotel prices are more favourable, the opera, music and ballet seasons will have just commenced and the autumn temperatures will be mild, though you should be prepared for cooler evenings and the possibility of some early snow falls.
Peterhof Palace, St Petersburg
ITINERARY
Monday 1 Oct 2012 / Arrive St Petersburg
On arrival at St Petersburg (airport or station) you will be met and transferred to your hotel, perfectly located on St Isaac’s Square in the historic centre of the city.
This evening join Prof Alexei Leporc and Helen Gavrilova for an introductory lecture, followed by a welcome dinner with your fellow travellers. (D)
Tue 2 Oct / St Petersburg Join Helen for a full day tour which will introduce you to this magnificent city, first planned by Peter the Great and later embellished by the Tsars as a great European capital. Begin with a visit to the Peter and Paul Fortress built by Peter the Great in 1703 to defend Russia from Swedish attack. Later the fortress became a garrison and notorious high security political jail, whose inmates included Peter's own rebellious son Alexei, Dostoyevsky, Gorky, Trotsky and Lenin's older brother, Alexander. Visit the impressive Peter and Paul Cathedral, the burial place of all the Russian Emperors and Empresses from Peter the Great to Alexander III. The bones of the last Tsar, Nicholas II, and his family were laid to rest here in 1998. Continue to Smolny Cathedral, a fine example of Baroque architecture by the Italian architect Rastrelli (also responsible for the Winter Palace and Catherine’s Palace).
After lunch, enjoy a walking tour along (and off) Nevsky Prospect, St Petersburg’s main avenue through the historical centre of the city. In the very early days it was the start of the roadway to the ancient city of Novgorod, and quickly became adorned with major palaces, department stores, hotels, restaurants, churches, squares and bridges. (BL)
Wed 3 Oct / St Petersburg Today begins with an introductory lecture on the 'Hermitage Museum' by Alexei, followed by the first of three visits to this world famous museum. Located in the former Winter Palace, the official residence of the Tsars, and the Small and Large Hermitages, the museum houses the vast collection of artworks built up by the Tsars, along with the collections of several former leading aristocratic families.
Following the morning guided tour, the rest of the day is free to stay on in the Hermitage Museum at your leisure.
Tonight, enjoy the first of three included performances at either the Mariinsky or Mikhailovsky theatres (opera or ballet) or at the Philharmonia (orchestra concert). Performance details for the 2012 / 13 season will not be announced until mid-2012. In addition to the three included performances you may choose to purchase additional optional performances. (B)
Thu 4 Oct / St Petersburg – Peterhof – St Petersburg Along with Alexei and Helen, journey out of St Petersburg to Peterhof with commanding views over the Gulf of Finland. Inspired by Versailles, this series of palaces and gardens was laid out on the orders of Peter the Great and completed by his daughter, the Empress Elizabeth. Visit the Grand Palace with its numerous gardens, the summer palace Monplaisir, the Royal baths and kitchens which detail everyday life of the Imperial family. Enjoy a picnic lunch and afterwards more time at this famous UNESCO World Heritage Site. (BL)
Fri 5 Oct / St Petersburg Join Alexei for a morning lecture on ‘Russian Music’, followed by a full-day exploration of the rich musical and theatrical heritage of St Petersburg. Visit the cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Monastery, where many famous Russian musicians are buried, including Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov and Glinka. Continue to the house museum of great opera singer Feodor Chaliapin. The restored museum exhibits a collection of theatrical costumes, photos, and documents relating to Chaliapin’s life and creative work and also Russian art pieces from the end of the 19th to beginning of the 20th centuries.
After lunch enjoy a backstage tour of the Mariinsky Theatre, which can trace its history back to 1783. Named after the Empress Maria Alexandrovna (wife of Tsar Alexander II) the present building and its beautiful 1,625-seat auditorium opened in 1860 and became the preeminent music theatre of late 19th century Russia, where many of the stage masterpieces of Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov received their premieres. The Mariinsky Theatre is home to the Mariinsky Ballet, Mariinsky Opera and Mariinsky Orchestra. Since Yuri Temirkanov's retirement in 1988, the conductor Valery Gergiev has served as its general director.
Subject to performance schedules, this evening you will attend the second of your included performances at the Mariinsky Theatre, Mikhailovsky Theatre or Philharmonia. (BL)
Sat 6 Oct St Petersburg – Pushkin – St Petersburg Drive to the town of Pushkin, formerly known as ‘Tsar’s Village’ (Tsarkoye Selo), renowned for its remarkable ensemble of palaces and parks. It is particularly famous for its impressive baroque Catherine Palace, where Empress Catherine the Great lived and died. Designed by the Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli (Winter Palace, Smolny Cathedral) the palace was almost totally destroyed during World War II, but has risen like a phoenix from the ashes due to an extensive restoration program undertaken since the war. Most of the restored interiors date back to the time of Empress Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great, though there are some early 19th century interiors too.
Pass by the nearby Aleksandrovsky Palace, the favoured home of the last Tsar, Nicholas II (not open to the public). It was from here that the whole Imperial family left in 1917 to travel to Yekaterinburg, where they were brutally murdered by revolutionaries.
After lunch at a typical Russian restaurant, continue to the nearby neo-classical Pavlovsk Palace, the residence of Emperor Paul I, the son of Catherine the Great. Designed by the Scotsman Charles Cameron, the estate’s magnificent palace sits on a hill overlooking an English-style landscaped park, with a beautiful river running through it. (BL)
Sun 7 Oct / St Petersburg This morning attend a Russian Orthodox service at St Nicholas Cathedral, also known as the Sailors' Cathedral. The walls of the cathedral are decorated with scenes from the history of the Russian Navy. With its golden Baroque spires, domes and the bell tower, St Nicholas Cathedral is one of a very few cathedrals in the city that was not closed in Soviet times.
Continue to the Church of Our Savour on the Spilled Blood (Resurrection of Christ Church), built in between 1883 and 1907 on the site where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated in 1881. Built in the flamboyant Russian Revival style, both the interior and exterior of the church are richly decorated with colourful mosaics, designed and created by the most prominent Russian artists of the day. Afternoon at leisure to further explore St Petersburg on your own. (B)
Mon 8 Oct / St Petersburg Join Alexei for a lecture on ‘Russian Art’ followed by a visit to the Russian Museum, housed in the Mikhailovsky Palace, built between 1819 and 1825 for Grand Duke Mikhail, the brother of Alexander I and Nicholas I. Established in 1895 under the decree of the Emperor Nicholas II and opened in 1898, the Russian Museum is today the world’s largest collection of Russian fine arts from the 10th to the 20th centuries, a famous restoration centre and one of Russia’s major cultural, educational and research centres. (B)
Tue 9 Oct / St Petersburg Join Alexei for a second lecture on the ‘Hermitage Museum’, followed by a morning guided visit to the museum. The afternoon is free to stay on in the Hermitage Museum at your leisure. (B)
Wed 10 Oct / St Petersburg Today you will discover St Petersburg’s rich literary heritage. Begin with a visit to the Alexander Pushkin Memorial Museum and Apartment, dedicated to Russia's most celebrated poet, where he lived between 1836 and 1837, and died after being mortally wounded in a dramatic duel. On a wave of nationwide grief for the untimely death of this major Russian literary figure, Pushkin's apartment was carefully preserved and remains a fine example of a nobleman's residence of the 1830s. See the study of the great poet of 'Eugene Onegin’ and ‘The Queen of Spades’, both of which were later turned into operas by Tchaikovsky.
After lunch, continue to Dostoyevsky’s Apartment, where the writer lived between 1878 and 1881 and which is filled with memorabilia relating to his life and work. Dostoyevsky based many of his stories and novels in the Vladimirsky region of the city where his apartment is located. Finish with a visit to the House of Anna Akhmatova, one of the greatest of Russia’s 20th century poets. (BL)
Thu 11 Oct / St Petersburg Enjoy a third visit to the Hermitage Museum, in order to visit the Gold Room, a Treasure gallery which houses gold jewellery of ancient nomadic tribes of Russia and jewellery pieces from the Gallery of Jewellery of the Imperial Hermitage created in more recent times.
Following lunch, visit the Jacobson Ballet School, named in honour of the Soviet dancer, choreographer and ballet master Leonid Jacobson (1904-1975). Here students begin learning at the age of 6 or 7. Sit in on a class where you will observe the demanding exercises and routine required to become a professional dancer.
Subject to performance schedules, this evening you will attend the third of your included performances at the Mariinsky Theatre, Mikhailovsky Theatre or Philharmonia. (BL)
Fri 12 Oct St / Petersburg — Novgorod Depart St Petersburg for Novgorod (approx 160 km, 2 – 3 hrs). Situated on the ancient trade route between Central Asia and northern Europe, Novgorod is among the oldest cities of Russia, and was Russia's first capital in the 9th century. Surrounded by churches and monasteries, it was a centre for Orthodox spirituality as well as Russian architecture. Its medieval monuments and the 14th-century frescoes of Theophanes the Greek (Andrei Rublev's teacher) illustrate the development of its remarkable architecture and cultural creativity.
After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Kremlin, situated on the left bank of the Volkhov River. The current fortress was built between 1484 and 1490 in the wake of Grand Prince Ivan III's conquest of the city in 1478. Continue to St Sophia Cathedral, the 38-metre high, five domed, stone cathedral. Then visit the Novgorod State Museum, one of the world’s largest expositions of Russian icon painting, displaying around 260 works. (BLD)
Sat 13 Oct / Novgorod Following a morning lecture by Alexei on ‘Novgorod’, drive to the Yuriev Monastery (‘St George’). According to legend, the monastery was founded in the 11th century by Yaroslav the Wise and is one of Russia’s oldest. The monastery was ravaged during Soviet rule. Five of its six churches were destroyed by 1928 and the monastery was closed in 1929. During World War II, the buildings were occupied by the German and Spanish armed forces, and were seriously damaged. In 1991 the monastery was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church, and parts of it have been renovated since then.
After lunch, visit the nearby outdoor Museum of Wooden Architecture. The houses here have been dismantled in their original locations, brought to the museum, reassembled and restored to recreate streets from old Russian villages.
This evening celebrate the conclusion of your ‘Two Weeks in St Petersburg and Novgorod’ with a special farewell dinner. (BLD)
Sun 14 Oct / Depart Novgorod Morning at leisure.
Late morning departure from Novgorod directly for St Petersburg Airport (approx 2.5 - 3 hr). Arrival by 13.30 in time for late afternoon flights on Finnair (currently at 16.25) or British Airways (18.05) or Emirates (18.50). NB. Transfer time may be adjusted according to final flight schedules. (B)
Artistically, St Petersburg is epitomised by the extraordinary richness of the Hermitage and Russian museums, and the grandeur of the imperial ‘summer palaces’ of Peterhof, Catherine and Pavlovsk located outside the city, all of which you will visit. Musically, St Petersburg is home to the famous Mariinsky Theatre, the Philharmonia and the Mikhailovsky Theatre, where you will attend opera, ballet and concert performances. You will also go backstage at the Mariinsky, spend an afternoon at a ballet school, experience the renaissance of the Russian Orthodox Church and delve into the rich literary heritage of St Petersburg.
To introduce you to this extraordinary city will be your tour leader, Helen Gavrilova, and guest lecturer Prof Alexei Leporc, curator in the department of Western European art at the Hermitage. Following ten full days in St Petersburg, you will spend two days in the charming, nearby city of Novgorod, one of the earliest capitals of ‘Old Rus’ and rich in medieval art and architecture.
NB. We have specially chosen the ‘shoulder season’ of early October for this tour as the museums will be free of the summer tourist crowds, hotel prices are more favourable, the opera, music and ballet seasons will have just commenced and the autumn temperatures will be mild, though you should be prepared for cooler evenings and the possibility of some early snow falls.
Peterhof Palace, St Petersburg
ITINERARY
Monday 1 Oct 2012 / Arrive St Petersburg
On arrival at St Petersburg (airport or station) you will be met and transferred to your hotel, perfectly located on St Isaac’s Square in the historic centre of the city.
This evening join Prof Alexei Leporc and Helen Gavrilova for an introductory lecture, followed by a welcome dinner with your fellow travellers. (D)
Tue 2 Oct / St Petersburg Join Helen for a full day tour which will introduce you to this magnificent city, first planned by Peter the Great and later embellished by the Tsars as a great European capital. Begin with a visit to the Peter and Paul Fortress built by Peter the Great in 1703 to defend Russia from Swedish attack. Later the fortress became a garrison and notorious high security political jail, whose inmates included Peter's own rebellious son Alexei, Dostoyevsky, Gorky, Trotsky and Lenin's older brother, Alexander. Visit the impressive Peter and Paul Cathedral, the burial place of all the Russian Emperors and Empresses from Peter the Great to Alexander III. The bones of the last Tsar, Nicholas II, and his family were laid to rest here in 1998. Continue to Smolny Cathedral, a fine example of Baroque architecture by the Italian architect Rastrelli (also responsible for the Winter Palace and Catherine’s Palace).
After lunch, enjoy a walking tour along (and off) Nevsky Prospect, St Petersburg’s main avenue through the historical centre of the city. In the very early days it was the start of the roadway to the ancient city of Novgorod, and quickly became adorned with major palaces, department stores, hotels, restaurants, churches, squares and bridges. (BL)
Wed 3 Oct / St Petersburg Today begins with an introductory lecture on the 'Hermitage Museum' by Alexei, followed by the first of three visits to this world famous museum. Located in the former Winter Palace, the official residence of the Tsars, and the Small and Large Hermitages, the museum houses the vast collection of artworks built up by the Tsars, along with the collections of several former leading aristocratic families.
Following the morning guided tour, the rest of the day is free to stay on in the Hermitage Museum at your leisure.
Tonight, enjoy the first of three included performances at either the Mariinsky or Mikhailovsky theatres (opera or ballet) or at the Philharmonia (orchestra concert). Performance details for the 2012 / 13 season will not be announced until mid-2012. In addition to the three included performances you may choose to purchase additional optional performances. (B)
Thu 4 Oct / St Petersburg – Peterhof – St Petersburg Along with Alexei and Helen, journey out of St Petersburg to Peterhof with commanding views over the Gulf of Finland. Inspired by Versailles, this series of palaces and gardens was laid out on the orders of Peter the Great and completed by his daughter, the Empress Elizabeth. Visit the Grand Palace with its numerous gardens, the summer palace Monplaisir, the Royal baths and kitchens which detail everyday life of the Imperial family. Enjoy a picnic lunch and afterwards more time at this famous UNESCO World Heritage Site. (BL)
Fri 5 Oct / St Petersburg Join Alexei for a morning lecture on ‘Russian Music’, followed by a full-day exploration of the rich musical and theatrical heritage of St Petersburg. Visit the cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Monastery, where many famous Russian musicians are buried, including Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov and Glinka. Continue to the house museum of great opera singer Feodor Chaliapin. The restored museum exhibits a collection of theatrical costumes, photos, and documents relating to Chaliapin’s life and creative work and also Russian art pieces from the end of the 19th to beginning of the 20th centuries.
After lunch enjoy a backstage tour of the Mariinsky Theatre, which can trace its history back to 1783. Named after the Empress Maria Alexandrovna (wife of Tsar Alexander II) the present building and its beautiful 1,625-seat auditorium opened in 1860 and became the preeminent music theatre of late 19th century Russia, where many of the stage masterpieces of Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov received their premieres. The Mariinsky Theatre is home to the Mariinsky Ballet, Mariinsky Opera and Mariinsky Orchestra. Since Yuri Temirkanov's retirement in 1988, the conductor Valery Gergiev has served as its general director.
Subject to performance schedules, this evening you will attend the second of your included performances at the Mariinsky Theatre, Mikhailovsky Theatre or Philharmonia. (BL)
Sat 6 Oct St Petersburg – Pushkin – St Petersburg Drive to the town of Pushkin, formerly known as ‘Tsar’s Village’ (Tsarkoye Selo), renowned for its remarkable ensemble of palaces and parks. It is particularly famous for its impressive baroque Catherine Palace, where Empress Catherine the Great lived and died. Designed by the Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli (Winter Palace, Smolny Cathedral) the palace was almost totally destroyed during World War II, but has risen like a phoenix from the ashes due to an extensive restoration program undertaken since the war. Most of the restored interiors date back to the time of Empress Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great, though there are some early 19th century interiors too.
Pass by the nearby Aleksandrovsky Palace, the favoured home of the last Tsar, Nicholas II (not open to the public). It was from here that the whole Imperial family left in 1917 to travel to Yekaterinburg, where they were brutally murdered by revolutionaries.
After lunch at a typical Russian restaurant, continue to the nearby neo-classical Pavlovsk Palace, the residence of Emperor Paul I, the son of Catherine the Great. Designed by the Scotsman Charles Cameron, the estate’s magnificent palace sits on a hill overlooking an English-style landscaped park, with a beautiful river running through it. (BL)
Sun 7 Oct / St Petersburg This morning attend a Russian Orthodox service at St Nicholas Cathedral, also known as the Sailors' Cathedral. The walls of the cathedral are decorated with scenes from the history of the Russian Navy. With its golden Baroque spires, domes and the bell tower, St Nicholas Cathedral is one of a very few cathedrals in the city that was not closed in Soviet times.
Continue to the Church of Our Savour on the Spilled Blood (Resurrection of Christ Church), built in between 1883 and 1907 on the site where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated in 1881. Built in the flamboyant Russian Revival style, both the interior and exterior of the church are richly decorated with colourful mosaics, designed and created by the most prominent Russian artists of the day. Afternoon at leisure to further explore St Petersburg on your own. (B)
Mon 8 Oct / St Petersburg Join Alexei for a lecture on ‘Russian Art’ followed by a visit to the Russian Museum, housed in the Mikhailovsky Palace, built between 1819 and 1825 for Grand Duke Mikhail, the brother of Alexander I and Nicholas I. Established in 1895 under the decree of the Emperor Nicholas II and opened in 1898, the Russian Museum is today the world’s largest collection of Russian fine arts from the 10th to the 20th centuries, a famous restoration centre and one of Russia’s major cultural, educational and research centres. (B)
Tue 9 Oct / St Petersburg Join Alexei for a second lecture on the ‘Hermitage Museum’, followed by a morning guided visit to the museum. The afternoon is free to stay on in the Hermitage Museum at your leisure. (B)
Wed 10 Oct / St Petersburg Today you will discover St Petersburg’s rich literary heritage. Begin with a visit to the Alexander Pushkin Memorial Museum and Apartment, dedicated to Russia's most celebrated poet, where he lived between 1836 and 1837, and died after being mortally wounded in a dramatic duel. On a wave of nationwide grief for the untimely death of this major Russian literary figure, Pushkin's apartment was carefully preserved and remains a fine example of a nobleman's residence of the 1830s. See the study of the great poet of 'Eugene Onegin’ and ‘The Queen of Spades’, both of which were later turned into operas by Tchaikovsky.
After lunch, continue to Dostoyevsky’s Apartment, where the writer lived between 1878 and 1881 and which is filled with memorabilia relating to his life and work. Dostoyevsky based many of his stories and novels in the Vladimirsky region of the city where his apartment is located. Finish with a visit to the House of Anna Akhmatova, one of the greatest of Russia’s 20th century poets. (BL)
Thu 11 Oct / St Petersburg Enjoy a third visit to the Hermitage Museum, in order to visit the Gold Room, a Treasure gallery which houses gold jewellery of ancient nomadic tribes of Russia and jewellery pieces from the Gallery of Jewellery of the Imperial Hermitage created in more recent times.
Following lunch, visit the Jacobson Ballet School, named in honour of the Soviet dancer, choreographer and ballet master Leonid Jacobson (1904-1975). Here students begin learning at the age of 6 or 7. Sit in on a class where you will observe the demanding exercises and routine required to become a professional dancer.
Subject to performance schedules, this evening you will attend the third of your included performances at the Mariinsky Theatre, Mikhailovsky Theatre or Philharmonia. (BL)
Fri 12 Oct St / Petersburg — Novgorod Depart St Petersburg for Novgorod (approx 160 km, 2 – 3 hrs). Situated on the ancient trade route between Central Asia and northern Europe, Novgorod is among the oldest cities of Russia, and was Russia's first capital in the 9th century. Surrounded by churches and monasteries, it was a centre for Orthodox spirituality as well as Russian architecture. Its medieval monuments and the 14th-century frescoes of Theophanes the Greek (Andrei Rublev's teacher) illustrate the development of its remarkable architecture and cultural creativity.
After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Kremlin, situated on the left bank of the Volkhov River. The current fortress was built between 1484 and 1490 in the wake of Grand Prince Ivan III's conquest of the city in 1478. Continue to St Sophia Cathedral, the 38-metre high, five domed, stone cathedral. Then visit the Novgorod State Museum, one of the world’s largest expositions of Russian icon painting, displaying around 260 works. (BLD)
Sat 13 Oct / Novgorod Following a morning lecture by Alexei on ‘Novgorod’, drive to the Yuriev Monastery (‘St George’). According to legend, the monastery was founded in the 11th century by Yaroslav the Wise and is one of Russia’s oldest. The monastery was ravaged during Soviet rule. Five of its six churches were destroyed by 1928 and the monastery was closed in 1929. During World War II, the buildings were occupied by the German and Spanish armed forces, and were seriously damaged. In 1991 the monastery was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church, and parts of it have been renovated since then.
After lunch, visit the nearby outdoor Museum of Wooden Architecture. The houses here have been dismantled in their original locations, brought to the museum, reassembled and restored to recreate streets from old Russian villages.
This evening celebrate the conclusion of your ‘Two Weeks in St Petersburg and Novgorod’ with a special farewell dinner. (BLD)
Sun 14 Oct / Depart Novgorod Morning at leisure.
Late morning departure from Novgorod directly for St Petersburg Airport (approx 2.5 - 3 hr). Arrival by 13.30 in time for late afternoon flights on Finnair (currently at 16.25) or British Airways (18.05) or Emirates (18.50). NB. Transfer time may be adjusted according to final flight schedules. (B)
