Excursions in St.Petersburg 

The Peter and Paul Fortress is the original citadel of St. Petersburg. It was founded in 1703 and was meant to protect the future city from possible attacks by the Swedish army and navy. The day of the fortress foundation is celebrated nowadays as St. Petersburg Birthday. Throughout the years the fortress was used in many different ways, but it never saw any military actions, for the Swedes were defeated before the fortress was even completed. Still due to its location and architecture it housed the city's garrison and was a high security political jail. In the middle of the fortress stands the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the burial place of all the Russian Emperors and Empresses. There are also the City History Museum and the Mint on the territory. The Fortress is one of the most famous symbols of St Petersburg. 01/05/12-30/09/12 - daily; 01/01/12-30/04/12 and 01/10/12-31/12/12 - daily exept Wednsday Wednsday

Saint Petersburg is often called a “Northern Venice” for the great amount of rivers and canals that divide the city in to the islands connected with the bridges. Some bridges are works of art, some have incredible history (such as Annichkov bridge) and the biggest ones across the Neva river are drawbridges (impressive sight, especially during the white nights season). Cruises among the rivers and canals are very popular and extremely enjoyable. Night cruises are also available. For a real treat a folk show and light dinner can be organized on board on the ship. Only in period 20.05.2012-30.09.2012

One of St. Petersburg's most famous and popular attractions, the palace and park at Peterhof (also known as Petrodvorets) are often referred to as “the Russian Versailles”. Versailles was indeed an inspiring factor for Peter the Great when he decided to build this grandeur imperial palace next to the city. Peterhof is a truly magnificent place — terrific parks and gardens, plenty of fountains incredibly decorated with sculptures and bas-reliefs, the Grand Palace, Monplaisir and Marly Palaces. The range and diversity of fountains is astounding, the interiors of the Palaces are breathtaking, atmosphere of history and the spirit of the Imperial Russia come to life in Peterhof. Make sure you have at least one day to visit Petrodvorets — the territory is vast and includes plenty of museums and places of interest! Daily exept: Monday, Tuesday and 31/12/2012

The Great Gatchina Palace was built in 1766–1781 by Antonio Rinaldi for Count Orlov who was a favourite of Ekaterina II. The Gatchina Palace is located on the hill above Lake Serebryannoe. It combines themes of a medieval castle and a country residence. Palace interiors are a perfect example of the Russian classicism at the turn of XVIII–XIX centuries. The Gatchina Palace was one of the favourite residences of the Imperial family. Only in period 18.05.12-15.10.12

Hermitage is one of the biggest museums in the world. Its exclusive collection is displayed in more than 350 halls. The museum is situated in the Winter Palace building, the residence of the Russian Tsars. The interiors and the history of the Palace are just as unique as the Hermitage collection and deserve special attention during the tour. Various expositions are based here on the permanent basis — Antique World, Eastern Europe, East, Ancient culture, History of Russian culture, “Gold Rooms” are among them. Quite often the works of art from the biggest museums in the world are brought and displayed here as well. The Museum (in one of the wings of the Palace) was first opened for public in 1852, when the Royal family still lived here.

A superb palace and park ensemble, dating from the late 18th to the 19th century, Pavlovsk was a summer residence of the Russian emperor Paul I and his family. Many famous architects were involved in building and decorating the Palace and Park. Forming a single architectural and artistic whole with the park, the Pavlovsk palace employs in its design such relationships of architectural volumes and masses that, despite its rather small dimensions, the palace's building produces the impression of a majestic monumental edifice which, at the same time, is organically set in the surrounding landscape. During the World War II the Palace was burned almost completely, the restoration works lasted for many years and thanks to the great many talented and inspired people Pavlovsk rose from the ashes. Exept Friday The Tsarskoye Selo palace and park ensemble (the State Museum-Preserve Tsarskoye Selo) is a superb monument of world-ranking architecture and garden-and-park design dating from the eighteenth to early twentieth centuries. Catherine Palace — a splendid example of the Russian Baroque is a central piece of ensemble. The Great Hall, the Golden Enfilade of state rooms and the world-famous Amber Room take visitors back in time to the age of Catherine the Great. Terrific Park consisting of the Regular and English parts is a perfect example of fine gardening. More than a hundred historical monuments are scattered across the Tsarskoe Selo that have a joint area of 300 hectares: there are grand palaces and intimate pavilions, bridges and marble monuments, and also exotic structures imitating Gothic, Turkish and Chinese architecture that invest little corners of the parks with a romantic atmosphere. Daily exept: Monday, Tuesday

Hermitage is one of the biggest museums in the world. Its exclusive collection is displayed in more than 350 halls. The museum is situated in the Winter Palace building, the residence of the Russian Tsars. The interiors and the history of the Palace are just as unique as the Hermitage collection and deserve special attention during the tour. Various expositions are based here on the permanent basis — Antique World, Eastern Europe, East, Ancient culture, History of Russian culture, “Gold Rooms” are among them. Quite often the works of art from the biggest museums in the world are brought and displayed here as well. The Museum (in one of the wings of the Palace) was first opened for public in 1852, when the Royal family still lived here.

St. Isaac's Cathedral was built to become the main church of St. Petersburg and the largest cathedral in Russia. It was built between 1818 and 1858, by the French-born architect Auguste Montferrand. The Golden Dome of the Cathedral is one of the key elements of the city panorama. The cathedral's facades are decorated with sculptures and massive granite columns (made of single pieces of red granite), inside the Cathedral there are incredibly detailed mosaic icons, paintings and stained glass paintings. A magnificent view of St. Petersburg can be enjoyed from the cathedral's colonnade which is opened for tourists during summer. The services are not normally held here (with a rare exeption) and the Cathedral mainly serves as a museum. Daily exept Wednesday

Церковь Спвсп на Крови

The Russian Museum is the first state museum of the Russian fine art in the country. It was established in 1895 in St Petersburg under the decree of the Emperor Nicholas II. The Russian Museum collection contains 400.000 exhibits. The main complex of museum buildings — the Mikhailovsky Palace and Benois Wing — houses the permanent exhibition of the Russian Museum, tracing the entire history of Russian art from the tenth to the twentieth centuries. The museum collection embraces all forms, genres, schools and movements of art. Daily exept: Tuesday and 31/12/2012.