MOSCOW - THE BIG SMOKE

RED SQUARE & ST BASILS

Red Square is the most famous city square in Moscow, and arguably one of the most famous in the world. The square separates the Kremlin (the official residence of the President of Russia) from a historic merchant quarter known as Kitay-gorod and major streets of Moscow radiate from here in all directions. Each building in Red Square is a legend in its own right. One of these is Lenin's Mausoleum, where the embalmed body of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, the founder of the Soviet Union, has laid since his death in 1924. Nearby is the elaborate brightly-domed Saint Basil's Cathedral and also the palaces and cathedrals of the Kremlin. Just a stone’s throw away on the eastern side is GUM department store which is well worth a visit, but take a credit card because it’s not cheap! Exorbitantly expensive cafes and restaurants surround the Square itself but be warned that prices will reflect something in the vicinity of ‘Bond Street’ plus! However, if you can stretch to a coffee then grab yourself an outside table in one of the cafes just to watch the world go by – it’ll be worth every rouble just watching the locals go about their normal business and the tourists making spectacles of themselves just to get that ‘perfect pic’ outside St Basils!

THE KREMLIN

The mighty Kremlin is the foundation of Russia’s political might, a powerhouse that oozes history; it has seen the fall of the Russian monarchy, the rise of Communism, the inception of the cold war and the reign of infamous tyrants such as Stalin and Ivan the Terrible. The Kremlin overlooks the Moskva River, Red Square and Saint Basils Cathedral and within its high walls are four cathedrals (which form the base of the famous gold domes ) and four palaces. You can enjoy a guided tour of the Kremlin, where the most notable structure is the Ivan the Great Bell Tower which is the Kremlins tallest building and can be seen for 30km away. Next to the bell tower you’ll find the world’s largest bell, which has never been rung! Cast in 1937 and weighing in at 202 tonnes, this beast of a bell was unfortunately chipped (if you can call 11 tonnes of metal breaking off a chip!) before it had ever been chimed.

ST PETERSBURG

St Petersburg, the jewel in Russia’s Imperial Crown, is an enchanting city with a rich history, grand palaces and a cutting edge bar and club scene, formed around a series of Venetian-like canals. St Petersburg is a real favourite of visitors and great for walking around, with most of the inner city sights on or just off the main thoroughfare – Nevsky Prospekt.  St Pete’s boasts more than 90 museums, many housed in imperial palaces, flamboyant galleries, churches and a host of shops, restaurants, cafes and bars.  Vibrant St Pete’s, city of the Tsars, is really not to be missed!

PETER AND PAUL FORTRESS

Peter and Paul fortress with its impressive baroque interior and golden spire was built in 1703 to protect the city from a Swedish Invasion but ended up being used as a political prison until 1917. Inside the Fortress, explore the prison and the magnificent Peter and Paul Cathedral where most of Russia’s pre-revolution monarchs are buried from Peter the Great to Alexander III. Other buildings of interest within the fortress include the City History Museum and the Mint.

ST ISAACS CATHEDRAL

St Isaacs Cathedral built between 1818- 1858 was once the largest Cathedral in Russia, which although now superseded in size by the Church of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, it is none the less incredibly impressive, with a gold dome which dominates the skyline and its opulently decorated interior. Not to be missed, are the amazing views over St Petersburg from the Cathedrals colonnade, which are well worth climbing the 300 steps for! The Cathedral now houses a museum.

ST PETE'S PALACES

Tsarskoe Selo (the Tsars Village) south of St Petersburg, has 600 hectares of outstanding gardens and is home the sumptuous Catherine Palace with its stunning baroque façade.  The Summer Palace was the first palace built in the city and it stands in the Summer Gardens of Peterhof, which are gorgeous and have a geometrical design that was inspired by the park at Versailles. Last but certainly not least is the breathtaking Winter Palace which is situated on the banks of the River Neva; home of the Tsars for almost two centuries, it now houses the world famous Hermitage collection

THE HERMITAGE

Situated on the banks of the River Neva and partly housed in the breathtaking Winter Palace which was the home of the Tsars for almost two centuries, is the world famous Hermitage collection which is one of the world’s largest art collections.  The Hermitage consists of five linked buildings, the Winter Palace, the Little Hermitage, the Old and New Hermitage and the Hermitage Theatre, the latter is not usually open to the public. The Winter Palace alone, has 117 staircases and 1057 rooms! Such is the size of the collection it could keep you entertained for days with over 3,000,000 items, representing culture and art from the Stone Age to present day. The beautiful Hermitage collections offer a broad range of exhibits including Asian and European art, Pre historic art and the awe inspiring treasury collection. There are countless works from Masters such as Van Gogh, Picasso and Degas to gaze at in wonder. You can take a guided tour of the Hermitage, where you will be taken to see the highlights of this incredible collection and the beautiful baroque palace that houses it.