Classical Music and Art of Russia
May 29th - June 10th, 2009
Day One- May 29th: Depart Toronto airport for your overnight flight to St. Petersburg. Dinner and breakfast served onboard.
Day Two - May 30th: Upon your arrival in St. Petersburg you will be met by your Russian tour manager and taken on a panorama tour of this magnificent city before arriving at your hotel for check-in. Time to relax and unwind before your “welcome dinner”, and the opportunity to meet your fellow traveling companions.
Day Three - June 1st: This morning you will embark on a full day sightseeing tour of this fascinating city including the Square of Arts, named for its cluster of museums, theatres and concert halls that surround it. A visit to the Museum of Music at the Sheremetyev Palace boasting over 3000 instruments played by famous musicians of the 17th - 20th Centuries. We will visit Tikhvin Cemetery, the burial ground of the most prominent Russian composers and musicians, such as Tchaikovsky, Borodin, Musorgsky and Rimsky-Korsakov. We will then explore the Peter & Paul Fortress and the Alexander Nevskij Monastery, founded in 1713 by Peter the Great on the site of the 13th century battle. This afternoon will be spent at the Nevsky Prospekt, the main street of St. Petersburg and a “behind the scenes” tour of the Mariinsky Theatre. Dinner this evening will be at our hotel. Overnight - St. Petersburg (B,D)
Day Four - June 2nd: After breakfast, you will have the opportunity to discover the State Hermitage Museum, which rivals both the Louvre and the Prado in architectural, historical and artistic magnificence. Originally a collection of 225 paintings bought by Catherine the Great, the museum now consists of five buildings. This afternoon a visit to St. Isaac’s Cathedral, once the main church of St. Petersburg and the largest church in Russia, 100 kilos of pure gold was used to gild the dome and it can accommodate up to 14,000 people. This evening after dinner, there will be an option of attending a performance at the KIROV ( Mariinsky ) THEATRE. Overnight - St. Petersburg (B,D)
Day Five - June 3rd: Just 25 kilometres south of the city, Tsars Village surrounds Catherine the Great’s Summer Palace, a gorgeous azure, white and gold Baroque palace overlooking sprawling English-style parks. You will have the opportunity to visit the Grand Hall and the Amber Room before admiring the 1400 acre Catherine Park (some of it!) which is a veritable gardeners paradise. In the afternoon, you will visit Pavlovsk, which was the former residence of Paul I of Russia, before making our way back to the hotel for dinner. After dinner, an option to attend a Symphony Concert at the ST. PETERSBURG PHILHARMONIC HALL. Overnight - St. Petersburg (B,D)
Day Six - June 4th: This morning, a tour of the Russky Muzey ( Russian Museum), the second largest collection of Russian art after the Tretyakov Museum and the first public museum of Russian art. In the afternoon, you will be free to wander in the Nevsky Prospekt before meeting back at your hotel for dinner. Overnight - St. Petersburg (B,D)
Day Seven - June 5th: After breakfast you will tour to Peterhof, one of the three restored Palaces destroyed after the siege of Leningrad in 1942-44. Bolshoy Dvorets was Peter’s first residence before his daughter, Empress Elizabeth, as well as Catherine the Great, expanded the Palace. You will be able to view the pompous Chesma Gallery and Peter’s study before visiting the Lower Gardens as well as the Wax Museum and Monplaisir ( the house Peter actually lived in ). This afternoon is yours to discover more of this beautiful city before meeting back at the hotel for your first class train transfer to Moscow. Overnight - First Class Train Accommodations (B,D)
Day Eight - June 6th: Your panorama tour of Moscow takes you to the impressive Red Square, where you will see St. Basil’s Cathedral from the 16th century, the Lenin Mausoleum, the Historical Museum and the GUM Department store. You will stop at the Sophia Embankment where you will enjoy the most beautiful view of Moscow Kremlin and your guide will take you to the historical areas of Moscow, such as Prechistenka Street, the Novodevichy Convent, and the Vorobyev Hills - the highest point of Moscow with a magnificent panoramic view of the city. Dinner this evening will be at your hotel. Overnight - Moscow (B,D)
Day Nine - June 7th: Today, you travel to Klin, where you will visit the Klin Memorial Museum of Peter Tchaikovsky with a full day tour to Tchaikovsky family estate and museum. This evening after dinner, the option of attending a performance of the SYMPHONY CONCERT AT THE TCHAIKOVSKY CONCERT HALL. Overnight - Moscow (B,D)
Day Ten - June 8th: After breakfast, you will visit the Kremlin, the former residence of the Russian Czars, and architectural ensemble of unique beauty. You will also be able to visit the Kremlin Cathedrals. This evening, the option of attending a ballet performance at the KREMLIN PALACE. Overnight - Moscow (B,D)
Day Eleven - June 9th: This morning you will visit the Pushkin Museum of Fine Art with the original collection of Egyptian art, French impressionist and Dutch paintings from the 17th century, including several Rembrandts, as well as the collection of Western European Art of the 13th to 19th centuries. In the afternoon, you visit the world famous state Tretyakov Gallery which began with two pictures by obscure Russian painters purchased in 1856 by Pavel Tretyakov, a prominent Russian merchant, art lover and collector, who in 1912 donated his private art collection to the city of Moscow. Since then the gallery has always been one of the largest collections of Russian art ranging from 12th century Kiev Mosaics and ancient icon paintings to contemporary pictures. This evening your farewell dinner will be at a traditional restaurant. Overnight - Moscow (B,D)
Day Twelve - June 10th: This morning after breakfast you will transfer to Moscow airport for your flight home. (B) Dinner onboard.
Price: $5796 CAD per person based on double occupancy
$1465 CAD single supplement
INCLUSIONS:
EXCLUSIONS:
- Round trip air from Toronto * Air Taxes
- 4 star hotel accommodations * Travel Insurance
- Breakfast & Dinner daily * Gratuities to driver / guide
- Entrances as per your itinerary * Optional evening performances
- Full time tour manager
- Porterage
CARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL SOURCE / CONNECTION TOURS
101 Duncan Mill Road, Suite 305, Toronto, ON M3B 1Z3
Tel: 416-449-0931 Toll Free: 1-800-265-2817 Fax: 416-449-9965
email: kkettle@carlsonwagonlit.ca
www.connectiongrouptours.ca