Weekend in Russia. Visit St. Petersburg city, 2 days

Type: special offers, around St. Petersburg, excursion, culture heritage, discovery

Route: St. Petersburg

Dates: upon request, all year round

Mode: vehicle, on foot

Group: 2–10 (combined group)

A. Guided sightseeing tour (3 hours)
You will visit the Peter and Paul’s Fortress, which was founded by Peter the on an island in the mouth of the Neva river Great in the beginning of the 18th century. You will see the oldest Cathedral in Saint-Petersburg, which was the burial-place of most Russian Emperors, the Romanovs family, starting from Peter I.
Excursion to St. Isaac’s Cathedral. The cathedral was erected in honour of St. Isaac, Peter the Great's Patron, on the bank of the Neva river during Peter's reign.  St. Isaac's Cathedral is an unique architectural monument, one of the most beautiful and tallest buildings with a 101.5 meters high cupola. It was built within 40 years (1818-1858) on the design of French architect August Monferran in Russian classical style. The cathedral is ornate with different sorts of marble. 112 granite columns decorate the cathedral outside.

A. Visit Petrodvorets (Peterhoff) (3h)
Petrodvorets, formerly called Peterhof, one of the major palace-and-park complexes in the suburbs of St. Petersburg, was founded by Peter the Great. The stately parks, innumerable fountains, beautiful cascades, marble statues of gods and heroes, exuberant decoration of the palaces in Peterhof were meant to symbolize the grandeur of Russia, which "having cut a window to Europe" consolidated itself on the shores of the Baltic Sea. This 'Russian Versailles' is probably the most impressive of St Petersburg's suburban palaces, certainly the most popular. It combines several ornate palaces, a number of beautifully landscaped parks and a dazzling array of magnificent statues and fountains. The Grand Cascade flows spectacularly from beneath the palace towards the Baltic Sea and is one of the largest fountain ensembles in the world. There are 3 cascades and 144 fountains in Peterhof s parks. From the Grand Cascade's largest fountain, decorated with a magnificent gold statue of Samson battling with the lion, a channel flows through the park to the pier, where hydrofoils and boats from St.Petersburg dock. The centerpiece of the Peterhof ensemble is the Great Palace, which stands on a natural terrace facing the sea. The interiors of the palace - the Throne Hall, the Chinese Lobbies, the Portrait Hall, the White Dining-Room,  and others - are all master pieces of decorative and applied art. (closed Monday, last Tuesday, open 10.30-17.00)

B. Visit Hermitage (3h). 
Short walk along the city center. You will have an excursion to the famous Hermitage – one of the oldest and largest museums in the World. The buildings of the museum, by themselves, are architectural chef d’oeuvres. Magnificent works of art embracing prehistoric culture, Egyptian art, Scythian gold, and great collections of Western-Europe paintings, sculptures and the Krupp collection of French impressionists are displayed in the 400 halls of the museum.