The State Museum of Fine Arts, named after the famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, houses the biggest art collection in Moscow, earning it a global reputation. It was inaugurated in 1912 as an initiative of the Pectoral Senate of the University, mainly funded by the philanthropist Nechaev. The nucleus of the collection came from the Hermitage, brought over when the communists transferred the capital of Russia from St. Petersburg to Moscow in 1918, and from the former Rumyantsev Museum in Moscow. It was also the beneficiary of many pieces taken from German museums at the end of World War II.
It is well-known for its exhibitions of impressionistic and post-impressionistic art (Renoir, Gauguin, etc.), and its collections consist of 14th - 19th century paintings by such artists as Rubens, Rembrandt, and Botticelli, and have grown over time. The Ancient Art section is particularly intriguing, including Egyptian (more than 6000 items), Assyrian, Babylonian, and Pre-Christian art.
The legendary "Treasures of Troy", taken from the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, are displayed in the Museum’s famous room #7.
Divulge in the history of Russia left behind by the likes of Rasputin and Lenin Uncover hidden gems through the Wizard of Oz and wallow in the architecture of Russia Savour traditional Russian delicacies like honey beer on this unique St Petersburg tour!This St Petersburg walking tour will show you the small things which make local life so bustling and important.
We begin at the Vosstania Square metro station where we will embark on a discovery to find the last surviving image of Stalin in its lavish décor and the place where massive doors stand to shut off a station to make it a nuclear shelter. Next we will visit a unique local pub run by the Russian aerobatics team, “Russian Knights,” complete with Soviet Air Force paraphernalia like ejection seats and an SU-27 tail fin fixed to the wall behind the bar. While here, we can’t forget to taste the local honey beer made as per an ancient Russian recipe. After savouring traditional locally made honey beer, your St Petersburg guide will continue walking towards a long grey Soviet-style building where the nuclear submarines, “Red Octobers” were designed and where a monument dedicated to Russian submarines stands nearby.
With a short walk from the monument, we will view the house of one of Russia’s most mysterious men, Rasputin! And nearby lays a small apartment that was once home to another of Russia’s infamous men in the 19th century, Vladimir Lenin. We will have the opportunity to walk with your St Petersburg guide through the archways of nearby buildings, experiencing the darkness of St. Petersburg called the “well-yards” where walls with windows stand just a few meters apart from each other, creating darkness within. Once we have escaped from the murkiness of well-yards we will immediately see the splendid art nouveau façade of Baltiysky train station, and certainly a different St Petersburg tour experience.
After a short walk from there, we will see an entire yard dedicated to the “Wizard of Oz” complete with paintings and sculptures from the fairytale’s characters, even an Emerald Town playground. The St. Petersburg sightseeing tour ends next to Vladimirskaya metro station where we depart while admiring the monument dedicated to Fyodor Dostoyevsky, one of the most famous Russian authors.
Cálzate unas buenas botas y prepárate para ver el auténtico Moscú en esta fresca y divertida ruta a pie por la ciudad. En este recorrido por el Moscú histórico, verás la ciudad desde una perspectiva única con ayuda de un guía local que conoce toda la información desde dentro. La ruta empieza en el monumento dedicado al fundador de Moscú, Yuri Dolgorukiy. Pasea por las calles más céntricas y encantadoras –algunas de las cuales tienen varios cientos de años– en las que se alinean famosas mansiones, teatros y restaurantes.
Esta introducción a Moscú es la manera perfecta de sumergirse en la ciudad y tu guía moscovita te contará todo lo que quieras saber. Explora la Duma del Estado –sede del Parlamento ruso– y el Teatro Bolshoi. Descubre la Plaza Roja y el histórico Kremlin. Admira el famoso hotel Metropol. Recorre los lugares más famosos de la ciudad, incluidas las torres de las iglesias ortodoxas coronadas por las características cúpulas doradas, que se elevan audaces entre los edificios de la era soviética conocidos como las Siete Hermanas de Stalin.
Moscú es una fuente inagotable de fascinación para los aficionados a la arquitectura, ya que cuenta con algunos de los edificios más ornamentados y fabulosos del planeta, a menudo muy próximos a los fríos bloques de la era soviética. Es esta yuxtaposición la que enriquece de verdad el espíritu de Moscú. Dando un paseo a orillas del río Moscova, te encontrarás con la Catedral de Cristo Redentor, una de las más grandes del mundo. Termina con una taza de té o café acompañada por un tentempié casero tradicional en una cafetería.
The palace at Pavlovsk was a present made by Catherine the Great to her son Pavel, future Tsar Paul I, in 1777. The place soon took the name of Pavlovsk and quickly acquired numerous masterpieces thanks to the tsar’s spouse, Maria Fedorovna, who was fond of art and a sponsor of many artists.
We will appreciate the refinement of its salons, the harmony of its colors, the elegance of fireplaces made from Carrara marble, and an extensive collection of porcelain, paintings, and ivory articles. Its park, covering 600 hectares, was initially a game reserve for the tsar, and is considered a masterpiece of European landscape architecture.
This tour is ideal for getting the feel of the city, and in particular its historical center and major monuments. Participants will enjoy Nevsky Prospect along with its most prestigious buildings: the Anichkov, Stroganov, and Belozersky Palaces; Lutheran, Catholic, and Armenian churches; the orthodox Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan, the Eliseev, Singer, and Mertens buildings, and many others.
We will cross the Fontanka, the river that, along with the Moika River and Griboedov Canal, formed the border of the city center. The banks of Griboedov Canal are home to the well-known Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, built in the so typically Russian style with its multicolored cupolas and gold onion domes. The former Winter Palace, once a residence of the tsars and now the Hermitage Museum, dominates the northern bank of the Neva River, while on the opposite bank the silhouette of the Peter and Paul Fortress and its high spire command the skyline.
We will stop by the House of Peter the Great - it was from this modest residence that the Tsar personally kept an eye on the construction of "his" city between 1703 and 1708. On Vasilievsky Island we will see the Strelka, the Menchikov palace and a historical building which is part of the State University.
We will pass by the Admiralty with its imposing gold broach, a symbol of the Russian navy on which Peter the Great wanted to base his empire. His equestrian statue is erected in front of the Senate building and St. Isaac’s Cathedral with its impressive columns made from Finnish red granite. Then there are the buildings of the Conservatory and Mariinsky Theatre on Theater Square, after which the tour will conclude with a visit to the St. Nicolas Naval Cathedral, surrounded by canals. This St. Petersburg landmark was designed and constructed by two main architects: the Spanish Agustin de Betancourt and French Auguste de Montferrand.
St. Isaac’s Cathedral is one of the largest cathedrals in Europe, while also one of the richest by the luxury of its materials: gold, malachite, lazuli, 14 varieties of marble, more than 40 minerals and semiprecious stones, granite from Finland, and 600 square meters of mosaics, along with numerous paintings and sculptures. The dome is covered with 100 kilograms of gold. The imposing columns are each 43 meters high and made from a single piece of granite from Finland. More than half a million workers took part in the construction of the cathedral, made particularly difficult by the swampy ground, the magnitude of the project, and the heavy materials that were employed - more than 300,000 tons! Today the cathedral is a museum, with only one small chapel used for religious purposes every day, though religious services are still held on the most important orthodox holidays.
Erected in 1882 by order of Alexander III, it was designed and named to memorialize his father Alexander II, killed in a terrorist attack on pavement preserved inside. It was built in the traditional Russian style and influenced by churches from the Yaroslavl region and Saint Basil’s cathedral in Moscow, and is therefore very different from the rest of the churches in St. Petersburg. Its facade is made from red bricks decorated with mosaics, and its onion domes are covered with brightly-colored ceramics and gilded painting. However, it is the magnificent interior where the décor achieves its greatest splendour: more than 7500 square meters of mosaics, unlike any other church in the world. Its silhouette rising from the waters of Griboedov canal is undoubtedly one of the symbols of the city.
Descubre el asombroso monasterio de Alejandro Nevsky, que alberga algunos de los edificios religiosos más antiguos e importantes de San Petersburgo.
El monasterio fue fundado por Pedro el Grande en 1710 en honor a una de las más gloriosas victorias de Rusia sobre los suecos. Aquí es donde se detuvo la invasión sueca del territorio ruso en el siglo XIII. Parece ser que Pedro el Grande estaba ligeramente equivocado con respecto a la localización pero sin embargo la leyenda permanece. El monasterio de Alejandro Nevsky es un increíble lugar de devoción, ya que atrae a creyentes de todo el país al ser una de las solamente cuatro lavra de Rusia, la mayor denominación para un monasterio ortodoxo.
El complejo de edificios comprende dos iglesias barrocas fabulosas diseñadas por el italiano Domenico Trezzini y la majestuosa catedral de la Santísima Trinidad, así como otro par de iglesias. Es de destacar el hecho de que los restos sagrados de Alejandro Nevsky fueron traídos desde Vladímir y que fueron albergados en un sepulcro hecho con la pasmosa cantidad de una tonelada y media de plata pura.
El monasterio de San Alejandro Nevsky, considerado como uno de los museos más antiguos de Rusia, hace alarde de una colección de objetos de culto: manuscritos antiguos, crucifijos, cuerpos incorruptos de santos e iconos con marcos cubiertos de piedras y metales preciosos. También es de particular interés el cementerio Tikhvin, donde están enterradas algunas de las personas más famosas de Rusia. Entre las paredes de este tranquilo cementerio pueden encontrarse miembros de la familia real, guerreros, compositores y escritores. Fíjate en las tumbas de los grandes Dostoevsky y Tchaikovsky.
The ideal way to get in touch with the city, including its historical centre and major monuments. We will stroll along the broad avenues, making our way through the famous Tverskaya Street to the top of Sparrow Hills, under the imposing stare of Lomonosov University, one of the Stalin-era skyscrapers scattered throughout the city. From there we will admire an impressive panorama of the city, followed by a stop at Victory Park and another in front of Novodevichy Convent and its lake, the inspiration for Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. We will approach the historical centre from the banks of the Moskva River, coming out near the White House, location of the siege of the Russian Government.
We will also stop at Arbat Street, a busy pedestrian thoroughfare nicknamed the “Moscow Montmartre” because of the artist that used to live in the area and the painters that nowadays populate the street. We will pass in front of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Parliament Building (Duma), Bolshoi Theatre, and the imposing facade of Lubyanka, headquarters of the KGB. We will continue through the alleyways of the ancient merchant district Kitai-Gorod, which contains numerous small churches, finally arriving at Red Square, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in the world and designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It was named Red, or “Krasnaya” in Russian, which in Old Russian was a synonym of “beautiful.” Now the square is surrounded by the famous buildings of the Russian Historical Museum, the Kremlin, and Saint Basil’s Cathedral with its gorgeous onion domes, built by order of Ivan the Terrible. Red Square is also home to Lenin’s Mausoleum and features Russian Army parades on various holidays throughout the year.
Red Square is also home to Lenin’s Mausoleum and features Russian Army parades on various holidays throughout the year. The word “Kremlin” in Russian means fortress, and in early Rus every important town had a fortress encircled by a wall where the main buildings, churches, and cathedrals were located and protected. The Moscow fortress, the cradle of the city, is the main fortress in the country and has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Built in the 12th century, it took the form we know today in the 15th century. It is an excellent reflection of the different stages of Russian art; a single monumental centre of architecture, painting, and decorative and applied arts.
The best craftsmen and artists worked on its churches, cathedrals, and palaces, bequeathing to us their priceless work framing the power and fame of Russia that is concentrated in its unforgettable alleyways and different sections. The Kremlin is even today the seat of some of the main political and religious government bodies: the President’s Palace, different administrative and military buildings such as the Senate and Armoury, and also numerous churches and cathedrals. Its walls, 19 meters high and 2235 meters long, tower above the Moskva River and Red Square and are made from eight kilogram bricks.
We will visit the fortress, enjoying the view of the world’s biggest "tsar bell", forged in 1733, and the "tsar cannon", one of the biggest guns ever made in the entire world. Forged in 1586 by Andrew Chokhov, its purpose was to defend the gate of the Spasskaya tower, though it has never been used. The Cathedral Square is an architectural jewel, flanked by the Dormition Cathedral, the Cathedral of the Annunciation, and the Cathedral of the Archangel.
The ideal way to get in touch with the city, including its historical centre and major monuments. We will stroll along the broad avenues, making our way through the famous Tverskaya Street to the top of Sparrow Hills, under the imposing stare of Lomonosov University, one of the Stalin-era skyscrapers scattered throughout the city. From there we will admire an impressive panorama of the city, followed by a stop at Victory Park and another in front of Novodevichy Convent and its lake, the inspiration for Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. We will approach the historical centre from the banks of the Moskva River, coming out near the White House, location of the siege of the Russian Government. We will also stop at Arbat Street, a busy pedestrian thoroughfare nicknamed the “Moscow Montmartre” because of the artist that used to live in the area and the painters that nowadays populate the street.
We will pass in front of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Parliament Building (Duma), Bolshoi Theatre, and the imposing facade of Lubyanka, headquarters of the KGB. We will continue through the alleyways of the ancient merchant district Kitai-Gorod, which contains numerous small churches, finally arriving at Red Square, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in the world and designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It was named Red, or “Krasnaya” in Russian, which in Old Russian was a synonym of “beautiful.” Now the square is surrounded by the famous buildings of the Russian Historical Museum, the Kremlin, and Saint Basil’s Cathedral with its gorgeous onion domes, built by order of Ivan the Terrible.
Moscow is the capital and most important city of the biggest country in the world, Russia. So you can imagine it is not a small city and, with the rich and long history of the country, it is only logical that there is a lot to see. But worry not! As doing a tour around Moscow’s city center will cover many of the most important tourist attractions and monuments. And that is what makes this tour one of the most relevant to really get to know the city, especially if you are visiting the city for a short time and you can’t afford seeing everything in separate days, little by little.
With this tour you will discover the most beautiful and historically important attractions of the Russian capital. The itinerary will be as follows: our walking tour starts at Red Square - the “heart” of Moscow and the whole of Russia. Although it is one of the most well-known tourist destinations, this place is so beautiful that it is absolutely worth visiting. During the excursion you will also see The Moscow Manege, and after this, you will take a walk through Alexander Gardens and the city center to The Cathedral of Christ the Savior. This building is enormous and truly impressive, being the highest Orthodox Christian church in the world.
Then the route goes through the green and pleasant Gogolevsky Boulevard and finishes with a walk by the famous Arbat street with its street musicians, where you will be surrounded by eclectic art markets and cosy sidewalk cafés.
A tour around Moscow’s city center with a tour guide like this will most definitely make you fall in love with the Russian capital.