Golden Ring Tours - Big Golden Ring

 We named it a Big Golden Ring as it has St.Petersburg as an add-on destination. The original Golden Ring consists of small ancient towns around Moscow. It is the number one tour for those who have never been in Russia before and want to have a feeling of this greatest country. The small towns' churches, monasteries, fortresses, kremlins are incredibly picturesque, and the local museums represent the most superb examples of early Russian craft-work.

 

Founded in 1703 by Peter the Great St Petersburg became the capital of Russia and retained this status till 1918. But even now it is considered our "Northern capital". Few cities can offer as many stunning attractions and intriguing moods as St.Petersburg — City of the Tsars, combining its fascinating Russian heritage with a distinctly European outlook. St Petersburg is the most Western and certainly the most beautiful city of Russia.

 

         

 

Moscow was first mentioned in 1147. This very year is, thus, considered to be the year of its foundation. Moscow’s founder is Yuri Dolgorukiy, Prince of Suzdal. Among his followers there was the famed Tsar Andrey Bogolubskiy, remember Bogolyubovo in Standard Golden Ring? Moscow has been the center of the Russian national culture for centuries. The city possesses the most valuable historical and architectural monuments of world importance: the Kremlin, Novo-Devichiy Convent, Church of Pokrov in Fili, Moscow State University, Triumphal Arch, Memorial complex of Victory on the Poklonnaya Hill. The Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Kremlin’s Voskresenskiye Gates together with the Iverskaya Chapel and Temple of Icon of Kazan Mother of God on Red square were built anew. Moscow is famous for its museums and such exhibition halls as the Tretyakov Art Gallery, Pushkin Museum, Manege.

 
Rostov the Great is known since the 9th century. Starting from1207, Rostov became a principality and, after joining Moscow in 1474, it became a religious center for people arriving from Moscow. The Rostov Kremlin, which is one of the most impressive monuments of the Golden Ring, was built in the 17th century as the Metropolitan's residence. Today, the Kremlin houses a museum exhibiting the furnishings of the Metropolitans' dining-room and study, the icons of the 15-17th centuries, and the famous Rostov enamels. The architectural monuments of Rostov include the Cathedral of the Assumption and the Bell Tower (1682-1687). The largest Rostov bell weighs 32,000 kg and the sound of its chimes can be heard at the distance of 20 km from town.

 
Many poetic pages have been devoted to Yaroslavl, to the city's inimitable architecture and its famous craftsmen, potters and blacksmiths, painters and sculptors. They created numerous churches, striking visitors with their original beauty. Yaroslavl today is the biggest along the Golden Ring, and the original picturesque corners of the ancient Yaroslavl are still preserved. The entire panorama of the Kotorosl embankment consists of a chain of magnificent, unique churches culminating in the monumental and majestic ensemble of the white-stone Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, behind which the fine red-brick silhouette of the Church of the Apparition of Christ rises.

Very welcoming little town of Kostroma, famous in Russian songs, is located on the Volga river. Kostroma played an important role in the Russian history being a birthplace of the Romanov Dynasty. In 1613, the boyars gathering at the Ipatiev Monastery blessed the young Mikhail Romanov to become the Tzar of Russia. Kostroma has preserved its unique image of a Russian city. It is also famous for its Fire-Watch Tower (the symbol of the town) and ancient churches like the Church of the Resurrection with the 16th century iconostasis.

 

-         Arrival in St. Petersburg

-         Transfer to the hotel

-         Free time

 

-         Breakfast in the hotel

-         City tour, including Peter and Paul Fortress

-         Return to the hotel

-         Ballet or folk show in the evening (optional)

-         Breakfast in the hotel

-         Excursion to Pushkin (Tsarskoe Selo), including Catherine Palace and park

-         Return to the hotel

-         Free time.

 

-         Breakfast in the hotel

-         Excursions to the Hermitage

-         Free time for shopping and walks around

-         Transfer to the railway station

-         Departure to Moscow by overnight train (2^nd class tickets)

 

-         Arrival in Moscow

-         Transfer to the hotel

-         City tour

-         Excursion to the Tretyakov Gallery

-         Return to the hotel

-         Free time

 

-         Breakfast in the hotel

-         Excursion to Kremlin, including the Assumption Cathedral

-         Return to the hotel

-         Free time

 

-         Breakfast in the hotel

-         Tour to Rostov the Great, including Kremlin, the museum of Finift.

-         Lunch

-         Departure to Yaroslavl.

-         City tour in Yaroslavl, including Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery.

-         Departure to Kostroma. Accommodation in the hotel.

-         Dinner in the hotel.

 

-         Breakfast in the hotel

-         City tour in Kostroma, including the Ipatiev Monastery, Trinity Cathedral

-         Lunch

-         Departure to Moscow

-         Return to the hotel.

 

-         Breakfast in the hotel

-         Transfer to the airport. Departure from Moscow