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Introduction to Russia
Great cities are born on the banks of great rivers, and
so it has been in Russia. Moscow, founded on the confluence of the
Moskva and Neglinnaya rivers, was transformed from a sleepy medieval outpost to
a power capital for centuries. St. Petersburg, forged from the
marshes of the Neva River by Peter the Great, became the opulent Czarist
capital in the 18th century.
Classical Russia and Russian Culture & Cuisine offer you wonderful opportunities to
discover timeless art treasures, culture and history, year round. You view the
collections of the Pushkin Museum that attest to the foresight and
sophistication of Moscow merchants. The dazzling art at the Hermitage Museum is the legacy of the shrewdness of Catherine the Great. You visit some of the
world’s most lavish palaces – Petrodvorets and Pushkin, and two
of the most historic, Yusupov and Menshikov Palaces. You discover
the great talents of Russian artists at the Russian Museum and Tretyakov
Gallery. The Dostoievsky House Museum speaks volumes on the
Russian veneration for their writers. The lavish lifestyle of the former
nobility comes alive with visits to the Armoury Museum and Diamond Fund,
and the creative talent of modern Russia is seen in the restoration of the Amber
Room at Pushkin. A fine lunch, an evening cultural event, and special
visits – all these give you the chance to savor the Russian love for art,
culture and fun.
Delights of Old Russia will transport you back in time with visits to
historic, beautiful towns and villages where the pace of daily life is still
tranquil.
In winter Russia is in full cultural swing, and transformed under
its snowy blanket, creating a magical landscape. In spring, the snowy landscape
gradually gives way to reveal beautiful parks with thousands of trees. Summer
brings vistas of colorful gardens, dazzling fountains, and endless daylight
hours. In fall, the cultural season returns,and the birch trees transform the
urban scenery to shimmering gold before the snowy blanket returns.
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