St Petersburg White Nights Festival
St Petersburg
12 - 19 June 2008
Valery Gergiev
Is there a more beautiful city than St Petersburg? Is there a more wonderful time to visit than the period of the ‘White Nights’ – when the city basks under almost 24 hours per day of sunshine and The Stars of the White Nights Festival takes place.
During the days your private guide will introduce you to St Petersburg’s many treasures – the Hermitage Museum, the Russian Museum, the various ‘summer palaces’ to name but a few – while at night the festival offers an incredibly rich program of opera, concerts and ballet at the Mariinsky Theatre and the new Mariinsky Theatre Concert Hall (opened November 2006).
Itinerary
Thu 12 June 2008
Arrive St Petersburg and check in to your hotel.
Fri 13 June - St Petersburg
A full day sightseeing tour of Peter the Great’s breathtaking city, including a visit to Peter and Paul Fortress. Built in 1703, the fortress, the oldest building in St Petersburg, was originally planned as a defence against the Swedes, but Peter defeated them before it was completed. Until 1917, it was mainly used as a political prison – famous inmates included Dostoevsky, Gorky, and Trotsky. (BL)
Sat 14 June - St Petersburg
Morning tour of the Russian Museum. Housed in the 19th century palace of Grand Duke Mikhail (brother of Tsars Alexander I and Nicholas), the museum boasts one of the finest collections of Russian art in the country. Continue to the beautiful Church on the Spilt Blood (also known as the ‘Church of the Resurrection of Christ’). The remainder of the day is free. Evening opera/ballet/music performance in one of St Petersburg’s magnificent performance venues such as the famous Mariinsky Theatre and the new Mariinsky Theatre Concert Hall. (B)
Sun 15 June - St Petersburg
Start the day with a morning tour of the renowned State Hermitage, which certainly lives up to its reputation as home to one of the world’s finest collections of Western European art. After your guided tour, return to your hotel or stay at the Hermitage and lose yourself amongst its glorious treasures.
Evening opera/ballet/music performance. (B)
Mon 16 June - St Petersburg
A full day at leisure for further exploration or sheer relaxation! (B)
Tue 17 June - St Petersburg
Journey outside St Petersburg this morning to the impressive Peterhof, overlooking the Gulf of Finland. Called Petrodvorets (‘Peter’s Palace) since 1944, the palace is set within stunning gardens accented by magnificent gravity-powered fountains.
Evening opera/ballet/music performance. (B)
Wed 18 June - St Petersburg
Travel south of St Petersburg to Pushkin, a town named after Russia’s favourite poet, who studied here. You will visit the splendid 19th century Catherine Palace, which was devastated in WWII and then lovingly restored to its former glory, with sumptuous interiors of gilded woodcarvings, agate and jasper mosaics, and engraved amber panels. (BL)
Thu 19 June - St Petersburg
Tour services conclude after breakfast. (B)
NOTE: Theatre performance schedules in Russia are traditionally announced not more than two months in advance. Therefore, final details of the 2008 'Stars of The White Nights Festival' will not be available until April - May 2008. From the wide selection of performances on offer, we will choose a major opera performance, a symphony concert and a ballet and will advise our final selection as early as possible. Tickets for additional performances may then be obtained, on request.
This tour may be easily combined with our ‘Wagner, Verdi and Operas of a Golden Age’ tour, commencing 19 June.
