Russia

Excursion to the Red Square, Kremlin (overview of 5 Cathedrals and the Assumption Belfry),  the Armoury

     The Moscow Kremlin is one of the largest architectural ensembles in the world. It is home to the Moscow Kremlin State Museum of History and Culture.
     The first Kremlin walls were built in the mid-12th century. Two hundred years later, Moscow became the capital of a small princedom and since that time, the Kremlin has been the residence of Russia’s rulers. Today, part of the Kremlin is occupied by presidential offices; this area is closed to visitors. But during our tour, you will visit the majestic whitestone cathedrals of Blagoveshchensky (the Annunciation); Arkhangelsky (built in the name of Archangel Michael); and Uspensky (the Assumption), where every tsar and emperor of Russia was crowned, the Church of the Deposition of Our Lady`s Robe, the Patriarch`s Chambers with the Church of the Twelve Apostles, and the Ivan the Great Bell Tower Ensemble.
     They all have stunning architecture and magnificent inner decoration. You will be amazed, too, by the size of the Tsar Kolokol, the 200-tonne Tsar Bell. The art of casting was highly developed in Moscow many centuries ago; the Tsar Cannon is another fine example of the early masters`skills.
     The Cathedral of the Assumption, built by architect Aristotle Fioravanti in 1475- 1479, was the most important church in the country. All Russian tsars were crowned there.
     The Cathedral of the Archangel, built by architect Aleviz Novy in 1505-1508, was the burial vault of the Grand Princes of Muscovy, of princes and Russian tsars up to the early 18th century.
     The Cathedral of the Annunciation was the private church of the Grand Princes of Muscovy and, later, of Russian tsars. Master builders from Pskov built the cathedral between 1484 and 1489.
     The Church of the Deposition of Our Lady`s Robe, built by Pskov craftsmen in 1484-1485, was the home church of the Russian metropolitans and, later, of the Russian patriarchs.
     The Patriarch’s Chambers with the Church of the Twelve Apostles were built in 1653-1655 for Patriarch Nikon, the first Russian "faith reformator".
     The Ivan the Great Bell Tower Ensemble was created during the 16th and 17th centuries. Between 1505 and 1508, Italian architect Bon Friasin directed the construction of the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great. A hundred years later, a new tier was added to it, and the tower reached 81 metres in height. In 1532-1552, a church was built next to the Bell Tower to the design of architect Petroch Maly. At the end of the 17th century, this church was transformed into an Assumption Belfry. The first floor of the Assumption Belfry now houses a museum exhibition hall.
 

The Armory
     The Armoury was first established as an arms and armour workshop attached to the royal court. Jewelers and icon painters arrived later. The work of the Kremlin masters ceased under Peter the Great, and in the 18th century, the Armoury became a royal treasury. The Armoury was the first museum in Moscow. Now the Armoury is a world – renowned museum, a unique treasure – house containing a wealth of articles of decorative and applied arts of Russia, European countries and of the Orient of the 4th to 20th centuries. The Armoury is located in a building specially erected for it by architect Konstantin Ton in 1844 – 1851.
     Now, it displays ancient arms, the tsars` crown jewels and many magnificent works of art. Here, you will see unique specimens of Russian and foreign craftsmanship, royal regalia and gifts from ambassadors. You will admire the famous golden "cap" of Vladimir Monomakh, used to crown all Russian tsars until Peter I, and the imperial crown of Catherine I, made of gilded silver. The Armoury has the finest collection of old English silverware in the world, made by London silversmiths of the 16th and 17th centuries, Faberge Easter eggs and a unique collection of carriages spanning the 16th and 18th centuries. The collection makes it one of the most impressive museums in Moscow.
     Total time is 4 hour

All prices include entrance fee, Spain speaking guide. Any transfers are not included.

The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts

     The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts is situated in the old part of Moscow, near Kremlin, on Volkhonka Street. It was built between 1898 and 1912 to a design of the architect R.I. Klein. The museum’s collection today has about 5 000 paintings, 350 000 drawings and engravings, 100 000 coins and medals. The museum’s permanent display includes three main sections - classics of Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Italy and the Northern Black Sea Coast; famous works of sculpture in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance; works of West European painting and sculpture from the Middle Ages to the present time.

All prices include entrance fee, Spain speaking guide. Any transfers are not included.

Borodino

     Borodino - village in Moscow region and site of major battle against Napoleon's army in 1812
     The Battle of Borodino, fought on September 7, 1812, was the largest and bloodiest single-day action of the French invasion of Russia and all Napoleonic Wars, involving more than 250,000 troops and resulting in at least 70,000 casualties. The French Grande Armée under Emperor Napoleon I attacked the Imperial Russian Army of General Mikhail Kutuzov near the village of Borodino, west of the town of Mozhaysk, and eventually captured the main positions on the battlefield, but failed to destroy the Russian army despite heavy losses. About a third of Napoleon's soldiers were killed or wounded; Russian losses was also heavy, but her casualties could be compensated since large forces of militia were already with the Russian Army and replacement depots which were close by had already been gathering and training troops.
     Main expositions:
Church of the Holy Face церковь on the Bagrations flash and the Borodino Convent of Our Savior.
House museum of the Mother Superior Maria art exhibition “Borodino field” and military toy
exhibition “Lev Tolstoy and the battle of Borodino
     Trip to the museum will take appr. 3 hour one way by bus. Excursion hours are 2.5 and 1.5 lunch time.

     Total time is 10 hours.

All prices include entrance fee, Spain speaking guide, lunch and transfers.

Vladimir – Suzdal: Golden ring of Russia

     Old Russian City Vadimir stays 180 away from Moscow. The city has been named in honor of the founder – the Kiev prince Vladimir Svjatoslavovicha. City symbols are the well-known Golden Gate, Uspensky and Dmitrievsky cathedrals and other unique monuments, put into the list of a world heritage of UNESCO. In the heart of the city, near to cathedrals, Vladimir's basic museum – Chambers is located. It is the large museum complex which has settled down in the former building of offices, with constantly updated expositions and exhibitions. One more interesting museum is the Vladimir historical museum.
     Not far from Vladimir there is one of the most ancient cities of Russia - Suzdal. Tourists are amazed here with a considerable quantity of monasteries and churches. Suzdal was spiritual capital of Russia.
     The main monument of architecture is the Kremlin. Here the most ancient frescos, ancient icons, unique Gold gate, tile furnaces … Other interesting monument of Suzdal - Spaso-Efimiev monastery
     Trip will take appr. 3,5 hour one way by bus. Excursion hours are 6 and 1 lunch time.

Total time is 15 hours.

All prices include entrance fee, Spain speaking guide, lunch and transfers.

Izmailovo Kremlin (1,5 hours)

     The Kremlin in Izmajlovo has united different centuries. In the walls of Kremlin was collected all the best that was in imperial residence Izmajlovo: one of ponds is recreated, menagerie, hen house and a stable (in the Kremlin there lives a bear, manual pigeons, horses), flowers and grapes are landed.

All prices include entrance fee, Spain speaking guide. Any transfers are not included.

Kuskovo (3 hours)

     Kuskovo is an outstanding palace-and-park ensemble. In the 18th century, ceremonial receptions and grand gatherings turned it into a summer out-of-town pleasure house for Pyotr Sheremetev. Nowadays, Kuskovo estate is an official museum of Russian architecture, ceramics and sculpture.

All prices include entrance fee, Spain speaking guide. Any transfers are not included.

Museum of patriotic war, The Ground Hill

     The museum has opened on 9th, 1995, in honor of the Victory in the Second World War, and there was the center of the Memorial complex a victory. The museum consists of a military-historical exposition and art. In Victory Park exhibitions of military technology and engineering-fortifikatsionnyh Great Patriotic War constructions are located.
     The basic sights:
- Six diopamas (audiovisual complexes), military years showing an original newsreel.
- The Glory hall. A marble board on which it is engraved 11.171 names of participants of the war, the awarded the order Hero of Soviet Union.
- A memory and grief hall.
- An exhibition of military awards and medals. Also here the big collection of sculptures, drawings, drawings of professional and nonprofessional artists, military posters is presented.
     Total time is 1,5 hours

All prices include entrance fee, Spain speaking guide. Any transfers are not included.

Sergiev Posad

     The first settlement arose in this place in the 14 th century. The town of Sergiev Posad was named in honor of St. Sergius of Radonezh who was born in the neighboring town of Radonezh and who was the founder of the Trinity Monastery that is now know as the Trinity-Sergius Lavra of the town is the place of the greatest attraction for tourists. The Trinity Cathedral of this ensemble has a unique iconostasis of Andrey Rublev. The ancient Russian architectural ensemble of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra reflects all the steps of the Russian architectecture development. Sergiev Posad is a spiritual center of Russian orthodoxy. The Assumption Cathedral of this ensemble is a sepulcher of the Russian Patriarchs. Craft and production shops operate in the town where one can buy famous Matryoshkas (Russian nested dolls).

All prices include entrance fee, Spain speaking guide, lunch and transfers.