| 5 JUNE, 2005 19:00 - 21:00 SIGHT-SEEING TOUR |
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| The tour is an excellent introduction to St.Petersburg - the second largest and most beautiful city of Russia. Over almost 300 years of its history St. Petersburg accumulated all the grandeur of the Russian Imperial Court and became one of the largest centers of culture and science. |    |
| Duration 2 hours Price RUR 450 per person |
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| 7 JUNE, 2005 10:30 - 15:00 PETER-AND-PAUL FORTRESS + SUMMER GARDEN |
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| The St. Peter and Paul Fortress was founded on 27 May 1703 to defend St.Petersburg against enemy raids. From the middle of the 18th century it contained Russian political prison. Now, it is the most important sight of the city. The excursion includes the visit of Peter-and Paul Cathedral; within the Cathedral is located the burial vault of Peter the Great and other Russian tsars. The fortress also includes the excursion route entitled "Panorama of the Neva" - over the roofs of the fortress' bastions. A masterpiece of Russian landscape art, the Summer Garden was laid out on Peter I's orders at the beginning of the 18th century. It originally contained 250 sculptures by Italian masters, but only 89 have survived. One of the first stone buildings in St.Petersburg is located on the grounds of the Summer Garden which laid out was on the order of Peter the Great. The interior decoration of the early XVIII century style offers a nice selection of Russian and Western European painting and decorative and applied art of the late XVII - beginning of the XVIII centuries, as well as personal belongings of Peter the Great. |
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| Duration 4 hours Price RUR 1500 per person |
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| 8 JUNE, 2005 14:00 - 17:00 THE STATE HERMITAGE |
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| Located in the heart of Saint Petersburg the Hermitage occupies five historic buildings, which are the architecture monuments, including the Winter Palace, former residence of the Russian Tsars. The State Hermitage is one of the oldest and largest museums in the world. State Hermitage (Saint Petersburg) is famous for its numerous collections, which encompass world culture from prehistoric times to the present day. In 240 years of its existence the museum accumulated a collection of almost three million exhibits, including significant art collections of Ancient East, Ancient Greece and Rome, Islamic arts, Italian Renaissance, XIX-XX centuries paintings, etc. The Hermitage is also home for the art pieces from the Saint Petersburg imperial palaces, collections of Russian Emperors dating to XVIII-XIX centuries, as well as numerous art pieces created on the orders of the Tsars by famous artists of Europe. |
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| Duration 3 hours Price RUR 1250 per person |
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| As an option, the participants and the accompanying persons may book the excursion to Pushkin. The tour is not scheduled, it can be booked additionally before May 10, 2005 be e-mail Anna.Danilova@monomax.org. The average price for sedan (2 people) is $135. The more people will come, the lower price will be. |
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| Tsarskoe Selo (Royal Village), located 25 km south of St. Petersburg, first appeared in the 18C as the summer residence of the Russian tsars. In 1918 the town was renamed into Detskoe Selo (Children's Village). In 1937 the name was changed into Pushkin, to commemorate the centenary of the great Russian poet's tragic death. | |
| Created for two centuries by many prominent architects, the unique architectural ensemble of Pushkin is world famed for its elegant palaces and pavilions, landscape parks and ponds, 18-century marble statues and historic obelisks. |  |
| In 1752-1756 a remarkable Bolshoy Catherine Palace - the striking example of baroque architecture - was built by architect Rastrelli, and numerous entertainment pavilions were erected in the park, including "Hall on the Island", Sliding Hill, Hermitage and Grotto. |  |
| The splendor of new architectural ensemble immediately caused everybody's admiration and delight. Tsarskoe Selo became the place for official receptions of Russian nobility and representatives of foreign states, who were visiting Russia with diplomatic missions. During the reign of Catherine the Great further significant alterations were made to the palace and park. The Catherine Park was extended with the layout of the garden landscaped in the English style. In the palace itself part of baroque interiors with abundance of gilded moldings and sculptures were completely altered by the Scottish architect Charles Cameron in the spirit of increasingly fashionable Classical style. |
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| A series of monuments glorifying Russian triumphal victories in the Russo-Turkish and other wars were put up in the newly designed part of the park. Among them are Columns of Chesma and Morea, Kagul Obelisk, all designed by architect Rinaldi, and monumental Tower Ruin designed by architect Velten. A series of monuments glorifying Russian triumphal victories in the Russo-Turkish and other wars were put up in the newly designed part of the park. Among them are Columns of Chesma and Morea, Kagul Obelisk, all designed by architect Rinaldi, and monumental Tower Ruin designed by architect Velten. |
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