Medieval Legends
Touring
Days 1 and 2: Vilnius
Vilnius has been on the world map a long time (since the fifth century B.C.), and there is a lot to see: the Gates of Dawn, the Gediminas Castle, even a former KGB headquarters. During our visit, our private guide will take us to Trakai, perhaps the most ‘Lithuanian’ town of all.
Meals: Breakfast daily, 1 Dinner
Days 3 through 5: Riga
So close and yet so different; Riga is medieval, Gothic and Art Nouveau, all in one cosmopolitan city. Outside of the city there is the Rundale Palace, designed by Rastrelli (who also designed the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg).
From Old Town, we will admire Riga’s enchanting skyline filled with elegant spires from Latvia’s many Lutheran cathedrals. If scheduling permits, we will be invited backstage at the beautifully restored Riga Opera House (where Baryshnikov started his career) for a private tour.
Meals: Breakfast daily, 1 Lunch
Days 6 through 8: Tallinn
In Tallinn our private guide will show us around the historic heart of the city – Toompea Castle, St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and of course the Town Square. Not to be missed is the Gothic Town Hall and the grand guild houses, which are some of the best surviving examples of European 15th and 16th century civic architecture.
We’ll also venture outside of Tallinn to see the Kadriorg Palace, founded by Peter the Great; today it houses a fine European art collection. In the afternoon, we’ll embark on a torchlight tour of Tallinn’s ancient Dominican monastery.
Meals: Breakfast daily, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Days 9 through 11: Kiev
Kiev
is now the capital of an independent Ukraine, but it is also the
birthplace of Kievan Rus, founded in the eighth century, and the city
from which the Orthodox faith spread throughout Eastern Europe.
The
skyline of Kiev is dominated by the thirteen cupolas of St. Sophia’s
Cathedral. The foundations were laid in 1037 under the orders of Prince
Yaroslav the Wise, who was also responsible for the Golden Gate
Entrance to the city. Here we will see some of the best-preserved
mosaics and frescoes of the 11th century. Kiev has deep Jewish
traditions and history and we will also spend some time exploring the
lives of Jewish Ukrainians in Kiev.
Meals: Breakfast daily, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Days 12 through 14: Moscow
Moscow
is a city built on strength and power and there is no better display of
this than the Kremlin and Red Square. Upon arrival, you can instantly
feel the excitement and energy of new Moscow- from high fashion to
haute cuisine- this is not the Moscow of old stereotypes. We will
explore the historical sights of the city including Christ the Holy
Redeemer Cathedral and the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, with its
collection of paintings by Cezanne, Matisse and Picasso, bought by the
millionaire merchants Shchukin and Morozov at the beginning of last
century. We will spend considerable time inside the Kremlin and its
famed Armoury Museum, which features the world-famous Faberge Imperial
Easter Eggs. We will and also be invited into the often-missed Diamond
Vaults, which house the crown jewels of Russia.
Meals: Breakfast daily, 1 Dinner
Days 15 through 19: St. Petersburg
Recognized
as the Venice of the North, St. Petersburg is a city built on majesty
and grandeur. Peter the Great began building his enchanting city on
the Gulf of Finland in the early 18th century and his canals and
waterways are left today much as he intended. Our tour will take us
through the unique Amber Room of Catherine Palace and the fountains of
Peterhof- be careful of the trick fountains! Our visit will include an
unrushed and privately-led visit to the greatest museum in the world,
the Hermitage. We will walk through the former halls of the Romanov
family and admire the collections that were purchased throughout the
different reigns, beginning with Catherine II.
Meals: Breakfast daily, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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