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St. Petersburg was founded by Peter the Great as his "window on the
West," this city of canals and palaces celebrated its 300th anniversary
in 2003 and today's visitors reap the rewards of the palatial restorations, which were done for this celebration.


CATHERINE'S PALACE (PUSHKIN)

is the most famous of the former "summer palaces" located in Tsarskoye Selo- or "czar's village". Designed to entertain in magnificent surroundings, the building interiors are only part of the design with extensive gardens and pavilions created to entertainthe romantic and idealistic ideals of the royal courts. The famous 'blue façade of catherine' Palace is easily recognized but it is the interior rooms with their carefully restored wall coverings, especially the famous "amber room" with its completed restoration in 2004, which delights the visitor. Located some 12 miles away from St. Petersburg, the ensemble of the Catherine's Palace and the Catherine's Park are among Russia's top museums, visited by hundreds of thousands tourists every year.
WINTER PALACE

The most famous palace is the WINTER PALACE, now one ofthe five buildings of the world-renown HERMITAGE MUSEUM.The name first used by Catherine the Great for her private refuse and art collection, the HERMITAGE contains works bythe most famous European artists as well as artisans from around the world in sculpture, ceramics, weaving, inlay andfiligree as well as paintings.
HERMITAGE

A tour of the HERMITAGE exposes you to not only the famous artistic works of the world but also to the architecture of the Winter Palace and the historical events which occurred here.
PAVLOVSK PALACE

Catherine's gift to her grandson Paul, is known for the extensive exhibitions of the decorative arts- furniture, china, marbles, tiles and elaborately designed rooms and celilings as well as paintings-which are the special attraction here. The gardens of Pavlovsk are also extensive but on a short summer visit, one does not have time to explore the walkways and labyrinths.

 
PETERHOF

was started by Peter the Great to entertain his guests along the Gulf of Finland. More than 140 famous fountains are the attraction in the gardens, especially the Cascade which operate by the same hydraulics set up by Peter, and the more entertaining magic stones or flowing trees. The restored buildings of interest here include the Palace, the Bath House and Catherine's Enclave. IF you have time, arrive by hydrofoil for th eeffect that Peter designed for his court when arriving by water. Prices begin from $310 - $480 2 persons - to $520 for 4 persons

MIKHAILOVSKY PALACE

are the head of Arts Suare is home to the RUSSIAN MUSEUM. This amazing collection of Russian art from the three early icon schools throughthe Soviet propaganda art and now also exhibiting the Russian impressionists, is worth a visit. From formal portraitures to the evolvement of the intinerant painters who began giving the true view of life across the countryside, with such works as Repin's "burlaks on the Volga' , to the works of Levitan and later Kandinsky, Russian history is carefully portrayed in the works displayed here. Prices begin from $228 - 320 for 2 persons - to $328 for 4 persons.

CHURCHES: The CATHEDRAL

in the Peter and Paul Fortress is a popular stop as it is the burial place for all of the Russian czars, and now the family of Czar Nicholas II has also been buried here. ST. ISAAC'S CATHEDRAL is one of the three largest domes in the world and a construction miracle. The mosaics and the iconostasis are remarkable works with semi-precious stones. On a clear summer day, a climb to the top of the tower is also worth the view.
CITY TOUR WITH PETER AND PAUL FORTRESS, and CATHEDRAL ON SPILLED BLOOD

Prices begin from $200 to 348 for 2 persons - to $360 for 4 persons. CHURCH OF THE SPILLED BLOOD - now restored to its colorful beauty, the onion-domes glisten and the interior is resplendent. After years as a storage facility, the delicate church architecture is an excellent example of the craftsmanship of the restoration artists.

KAZAN CATHEDRAL

this magnificent structure along the Nevsky Prospekt was built in 1801-11 and was the site of the royal marriages . Much has been done on the inside, but it is the exterior and the gardens that generate much use today. It is worth a photo stop!
NEVSKIY MONASTERY AND LAVRA

this Orthodox Church and Monastery was one of the four functioning monasteries in the Soviet Era. Although the services are beautiful examples of the symbolism and musical chants of the Church, it is the Lavra, or cemeteriers, which draws the most visitors. Here the decorative monuments and headstones to such artists as Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Dostoyevsky and Lomonosov and Pavlov and Mendeleev reflect the continued devotion to musicians, writers, scientists, architects and other artists.

OTHER SITES/ VENUES

There are many other places of interest especially if this is NOT your first visit to St. Petersburg. We can also devote your time to Literary St Petersburg or other special interests. Please tell us your interests.

THEATRES: The MARIINSKY THEATRE

is well known around the world for its ballet performances as well as its school. The MARIINSKY, under the artistic director Valery Gergiev, once again offers audiences the fabulous performances of the White Nights Festival, the International Ballet Festival and the White Days Festival as well as the regular season.

The HERMITAGE THEATRE

is the intimate setting in the Winter Palace now used by the Mariinsky Company for smaller productions and "petite ballets." FOLK PERFORMANCES : Numerous locations in the City depending upon the date. PRICING: This depends on the number of people in the group and the actual scheule of sites and entrance fees. The prices here are given as estimates for only the named site. Please submit your requested dates, sites, number of people and name of the ship for accurate pricing. You may bring box lunches from your ship or we can schedule meals.

VISAS: Tour Designs Inc. will arrange these and will discuss options with you. Visitors MUST have visas arranged to disembark in St Petersburg!

GROUP TOUR SPECIAL - ELEGANT ST. PETERSBURG AT A VALUE PRICE!

Tour Designs is known as a provider of top quality sightseeing for all our clients, featuring excellent guides and planning services for over 30 years.  Our clients appreciate the differences between private touring planned just for them and the packed-motorcoach tours offered by the cruise lines and other operators.

Our private tours offer all you can experience during your stay in the city.  However, if you are one or two travelers, this may cost more than joining the ship’s group program.

Now, A NEW OPTION!!  For those who want to save a bit of money and still have the best - for those who enjoy meeting new friends in small- to moderate-sized groups of English-speaking travelers we offer ST. PETERSBURG VALUES.  With no more than 25 people, and usually fewer, on a coach, you are that much closer to your knowledgeable guide.  Planned to include all the highlights of this magnificent city, the 2-day sightseeing package offers the best value for your money.  In addition to relatively inexpensive, high quality sightseeing, our tours include substantive lunches on each day.  It is hard to imagine paying so little to receive so much! And Tour Designs can arrange all of this as a visa-free visit to St. Petersburg, saving you the cost of individual visas.

Sightseeing Highlights:  Included in your two-day tour will be inside visits to
The world famous Hermitage Museum, housed in part in the Winter Palace
Peter and Paul Fortress (the first building of the city and home to the tombs
of the Romanov Czars and Czarinas
Catherine’s Summer Palace in Pushkin, with its magnificent Amber Room
Church of the Saviour on Spilt Blood – glorious onion domes on the site
    of Czar Alexander II’s assassination

In addition, your driving City Tour and Canal Cruise, we will stop for photo op’s at the
Palace and St. Isaac’s Squares, Peter the Great’s Monument, the Rostral Columns,
Cruiser Aurora and the fabulous Gardens and Fountain Park at Peterhof. 

For YOUR EVENING IN ST PETERSBURG, you may wish to add a private tour, or join one of the evening cultural events.  Again, we have CHOICES for YOU!

For an astonishing price of $295.00 per person for the 2-day tour you will receive an excellent guide, coach services, entrance fees and two lunches. For photos and descriptions of many of these sites, please look through our website (www.tourdesignsinc.com).

 

Prior to booking, prices subject to change due to circumstances beyond Tour Designs, Inc. control. Land-only and other services available upon request. For further information and reserve your place in the experience of a lifetime,call your Travel Agent or email:tourdesigns@igc.org



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