SIGHTSEEING & EXCURSIONS IN MOSCOW
Moscow Sightseeing Tour
During the city tour the tourists get to know the history of the city and visit the main places of interest,e.g. Red Square, the Moscow State University, the Bolshoi Theatre, the Triumphal Arch. They drive along the main Moscow streets: Tverskaya, Novy Arbat Avenue, Kutuzovsky Avenue, Sadovoye and Bulvarnoye Rings. Most visitors begin their acquaintance with Moscow’s Red Square - Krasnaya Ploschad, the heart of the city. Its history goes back to the 15th century when it was known as the marketplace. The present name of the square dates from the 17th century, though in those days “krasnaya” meant “beautiful”. Today Red Square, occupies more than 70.000 square metres, Arbat is one of the most famous and old street in Moscow. Many court assistants lived here in the 16th century; in the 19th century, many wealthy and educated residents chose to live in the Arbat. Today the Old Arbat (along Arbat Ulitsa) is a cobbled pedestrian passage and one of the most popular meeting and shopping spots in Moscow.
EXCURSION TOURS - MOCSOW
The Kremlin. Moscow
The Kremlin is the historic centre of the city, the heart of Moscow. The Kremlin is located on a hill, protected on the one side by the Moscow-river, and on the other by its tributary,the Neglinnaya, which since the year 1819 has flowed through the underground tunnel near the Alexandrovski Gardens. In the Kremlin tourists can see the Tsar Bell and the Tsar Cannon and visit the Annunciation (Blagoveschensky), Arkhangel (Arkhangelsky) and Assumption (Voznesensky) Cathedrals, the Bell-Tower of Ivan the Great and the Church of the Twelve Apostles all wonderful monuments of Russian church architecture with unique richly decorated interiors.
The State Armory Chamber. Moscow
The Armoury Chamber was first established as an arms and armour workshop attached to the royal court. Jewellers 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, 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.
The State Jewellery Fund. Moscow
The State Jewellery Fund houses a unique collection of jewellery, which is the national property and pride of Russia - the Crown of the Russian Empire, symbolising the Tsar’s power, and priceless pieces of art, made from gold and precious stones. At the beginning of the 16th century this collection belonged to the Russian Emperors. Until 1914 it was kept in the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. In 1967 it was opened to the public. Among the treasures are the “Orlov” 180-faceted diamond, the world’s biggest sapphire and the piece of gold 36 kilos in weight, called “The Big Triangle”.
Tretiakov Art Gallery. Moscow
The Tretyakov Art Gallery is the country’s largest and most important depository of Russian art. The original building of the Tretyakov Gallery is a work of art itself. It was designed by the Russian Artist Victor Vasnetsov and built in the fanciful style of early Russian Art Nouveau. The collection was started in 1856 by the wealthy brothers Pavel and Sergey Tretyakov, who donated it to the city of Moscow in 1892.
Novodevichy Convent. Moscow
Novodevichy Convent is one of the most famous historical places of interest in Moscow of the 16th - 18th centuries and at the same time the functioning convent which belongs to the Russian Orthodox Church. The convent is on the coast of Moscow-river, near Vorobyovy hills. It was founded in 1524 by the great tsar Vasily III Ioanovich in memory of the capture of Smolensk. First prioress of this convent, Helena, had a nickname: Devochkina. They believe that therefore convent was named Devitchy. Here stayed Boris Godunov awaiting for Russian throne, which he obtained later. Evdokia Fedorovna the Peter’s spouse lived here for four years. Peter’s sister Sophia took a veil here, and died in 1704.
Sergeev Posad. Moscow
Sergiev Posad, formerly Zagorsk, is located 71 km from Moscow. The town was founded n the 14th century by Sergy Radonezhsky. The heart of this settlement was the trinity Monastery, which played an important role in the development of Russian history and culture. Trinity Cathedral (1422-1423) of the special interest to visitors. The icon stand in this Cathedral was painted by famous Russian icon painters Andrei Rublev and Daniel Chorny. The Assumption Cathedral (1158-1585), resembling the Assumption Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin, is the centre of the ensemble of the monastery. On the grounds of the Trinity Sergiev Monastery there is museums which founded in 1920. Ancient Russian art of the 14th to 17th centuries, embroidery, gold and silver work and masterpieces of ancient icon painting are on display in the museum.
“Star City”. Moscow
You have a wonderful opportunity to visit to the State Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. The center is situated about 1 hour's drive from Moscow in the totally self-contained "Space City". Cosmonauts from Russia and all over the world are trained here for manned space flights. The tour includes with several unique pieces of equipment, and life-size models of the Russian spacecraft. Guests can try the centrifuge machine, the water tank simulated space affects, look around the real, life-sized models of the spaceships Mir and Soyuz. An interesting talk with one of the famous Russian cosmonauts is organized for the guests. In Russian center for astronauts training, you can experience a weightless flight in IL-76, training in Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in cosmonaut’s flight suites under essentially weightless conditions. The Cosmonauts museum presents some important space hardware and the personal effects of World's first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.
