Moscow & Sochi

Red Square, GUM, “Stalin`s Seven Sisters”, Basil’s cathedral, Sparrow hills, New Maiden Convent, Kremlin territory, cathedrals, Armoury museum

AM Orientation tour - Red Square – GUM - “Stalin`s Seven Sisters” / Highscapers - Sparrow Hills (city’s best viewpoint) – New Maiden convent (outside) Your private vehicle and the guide will be waiting for you to invite you for an exciting tour of Moscow which is more than 878 years old. Our first stop is at the Red Square. Originally a commercial centre, Red Square has been at the very centre of Russian history since the 15th century, from Ivan the Terrible’s confession of his misdeeds to the people in 1550, to great demonstrations, executions and the great parades of the Soviet Union’s military might. Ironically, “krasny” originally meant beautiful; it came to mean “red” only in the last century! From the time of Ivan the Great the square was used as a huge gathering place for public events, markets, fairs and festivals. The magnificent square encompasses an area of over $ 70,000 square metres and is bounded by the Kremlin walls, St.Bazil’s cathedral, the Historical museum and GUM departments store, the shopping arcade, that was completed in 1893. At the southern end of Red Square is the almost fairy-tale like building of St Basil’s cathedral, commissioned in 1552 by Ivan the Terrible to celebrate his conquering of Kazan; legend has it that the architect was later blinded so that he could never repeat such a building that is so traditionally Russian. It is built of brick and comprises many colourful asymmetrical helmet & onion domes situated over nine chapels. Go to the best viewpoint on Sparrow hills, from which you could easily see most of the city. Sink in the atmosphere of the medieval Russia, when even daughters of tsars were doomed to become nuns (such were the rules, visiting the refined New Maiden Convent (outside). This is one of the most beautiful of the city collection of buildings, located to the south-west of the city centre, with 16 gilded domes, founded in 1524. Many noble women, including Peter the Great’s first wife and his sister took vows and spent the rest of their lives here and are buried here. Time for lunch PM Kremlin territory, cathedrals, Armoury museum After lunch visit the oldest part of Moscow – the Kremlin. You might be surprised how many ancient and magnificent structures one can see within its walls: 15th century cathedrals (the coronation, wedding and bury place of Russian rulers), bell-tower, Patriach’s Palace, Grand Kremlin Palace and of course the richest museum - Armoury. The Armoury has a fantastic collection of insignia of Imperial power, precious clothes, ceremonial harness and unique collection of imperial carriages. The 17th century throne of Alexey Romanov covered with a mosaic of turquoises and 900 diamonds, a pheloneon of Metropolitan Platon decorated with 150,000 pearls (it took the embroiderer 2 years to work on the pattern!), the famous Faberge eggs – is a tiny part of the whole collection.

Sochi City tour

You will have an opportunity to enjoy and compare Sochi’s beauty in the daylight, see its architecture, museums, monuments and palace complexes, admire its fountains. You will have a promenade along the Sea Port Quay and magnificent shady paths in the Reviera Park captivating with sweet melodies played by the symphony or folk orchestras. You will be deeply impressed by the monument of the park and garden culture, the world’s largest arboretum – Sochi Dendrarium. The arboretum is proud of its collection of rare plants containing more than 1800 species that have been brought here from all corners of our planet. Excursion to the Joseph Stalin’s Dacha is a unique opportunity to see the world that surrounded the former leader of the Soviet empire with your own eyes. In 1930s and 1940s, chiefs of states and political leaders of various parties used to spend their vacations here. The former dacha is situated in the territory of Zelenaya Roscha (Green Grove) Health Resort. The scenery has remained the same from Stalin’s times.

Goodbye and see you again!

Departure transfer with the guide for your flight.