One of Russia’s oldest, most historically significant, yet least well-known cities: welcome to Pskov!
It is in Pskov where the rarest monuments of ancient Russian architecture are located: The Kremlin, The Trinity Cathedral, a great number of temples and churches. The unique frescoes of the Transfiguration Cathedral were created by Greek artists in the 12th century. Architectural masterpieces, outstanding works of icon painting are far from a complete list of historical relics of Pskov and represent an enduring value not only for our country, but for the whole world.
You will visit Izborsk – a sleepy ancient village that celebrated its 1150th anniversary in 2012. The main attraction here is the ruined stone fortress and there’s the peaceful Gorodishchenskoye Lake. It’s a great spot to take a break and get a taste of the Russian rural way of life for a day or so.
Then you will spend a day in a city with a great history – Veliky Novgorod. It is a medieval center of trade and crafts, the cradle of Russian democracy. The city has preserved a huge number of great monuments of architecture and monumental painting.
Departure from Saint Petersburg. Lunch in a typical Russian tavern with traditional dishes. Excursion to the Rozhdestveno village and the House Museum of Nabokov – the Rozhdestveno Memorial Estate. As Nabokov spent part of his youth at Vyra, he visited his grandmother at Batovo and his uncle at Rozhdestveno. While the museum commemorates Nabokov it also displays the life of Russian nobility and of the common people of the area from the final years of Imperial Russia. Transfer to Pskov. Accommodation at the hotel. Dinner.
Breakfast. Visit to Izborsk and Pechory. Izborsk is famous for its fortress, one of the oldest in Russia. The fortress contains the Church of St. Nicholas, dating from the 14th century, the Nativity Church of the 16th century and the ancient towers.
The most important visit in Pechory is the Pskov-Pechory Monastery (also known as the Pskov-Caves or Pskovo-Pechersky Dormition Monastery) which contains ancient churches with gilded domes (15-19th) centuries. The Pskov-Caves Monastery is one of the few Russian monasteries that have never been closed at any point in their existence, including during World War II and the Soviet regime. Lunch.
Return to Pskov. During the panoramic tour of the city you will learn about its history and visit its Kremlin which houses the Trinity Cathedral of the 17th century and Alexander Nevsky monument. Dinner. Free evening.
Breakfast. Transfer to Veliky Novgorod. Accommodation at the hotel and lunch. Panoramic tour of the city and visit to the Kremlin. You will also see the former Archbishop’s Palace, the only example of Gothic architecture in Novgorod. Then you will see the Saint Sophia Cathedral, the first Russian cathedral built of stone. Dinner. Free evening.
Breakfast. Excursion from Novgorod to the “Vitoslavlitsy” – an open-air museum of wooden architecture, which preserves the atmosphere of the 16th century village, and to the Saint George’s (Yuriev) Monastery and the Saint George’s Cathedral of the 12th century, famous for its beautiful medieval frescoes. Lunch. Transfer to Saint Petersburg. Accommodation and dinner at the hotel.
*Please, take note that we reserve the right to change the order of visits.
Level 1 (easy)
Cruise
Level 1 (easy)
Regular Tour
