GLORIES OF ST PETERSBURG. An escorted visit exploring the wonders of St Petersburg staying in Turgenev House. Noble Caledonia

Transcription

1 GLORIES OF ST PETERSBURG An escorted visit exploring the wonders of St Petersburg staying in Turgenev House Noble Caledonia

2 Here is a wonderful opportunity to see the glories of St Petersburg on a visit hosted by Julia Korn or Elena Spiro who are both resident in St Petersburg. These exclusive trips will be a first class introduction to the most romantically beautiful of all Russian cities. What makes this visit extra special is the opportunity to stay in the delightful apartment in Turgenev House, which takes its name from Ivan Turgenev who lived here between 1860 and It is one of St Petersburg s grandest houses facing the Fontanka River, in the heart of the city. Our party size is limited to just six guests per departure and Julia or Elena will be looking after all your sightseeing, theatre and dining arrangements. Being part of such a small party you will be able to take full advantage of our hosts in-depth knowledge of their home city and because of the central location you will be able to walk to many of the most important places such as the Hermitage, Russian Museum, Palace Square, St Isaac s Cathedral and the Nevsky Prospekt. Our visit will include the world-famous Hermitage and a number of historic palaces, both within the city and in the surrounding countryside. A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma was how Winston Churchill described Russia, and today this still holds true. Its politics may have changed, but it still remains a mystery and consequently a marvellous place to visit. Seasons of choice St Petersburg is destination which can be appreciated throughout the year so we have a selection of departures over spring, summer and winter to choose from. The winter months in St Petersburg are magical and wonderfully atmospheric. Seeing the city under a mantle of freshly fallen snow is enchanting and during our winter visits we can explore without the summer tourists. Alternatively, for those choosing to travel on one of our spring departures, this is a delightful time to be in St Petersburg when the city comes alive after the long winter. Finally, the arrival of summer brings a new energy to the city with bright nights owing to St Petersburg s geographical position. Your Hosts ELENA SPIRO: Elena Spiro has worked with Noble Caledonia for many years and is extremely knowledgeable, bringing so much to any visit to St Petersburg because of her enthusiasm, great warmth and unrivalled professionalism. She was born in Leningrad and graduated from the Philological Department at Leningrad University. For many years she has worked with English-speaking tourists as a guide and travelled with them all over Russia. Elena has qualified in numerous courses to conduct tours in all the major museums and palaces in and around St Petersburg providing services for guests with special interests in arts, music, ballet and history. JULIA KORN: For the past 17 years Julia Korn has been Senior Researcher at the National Pushkin Museum in St. Petersburg and has published articles on Russian literature, history and arts. Fluent in English, she acts as the International Liaison Officer for the Museum. In this capacity she has travelled to the U.S.A. many times and in 1999 helped coordinate the renowned International Pushkin Conference at Stanford University, California. Julia is also the St. Petersburg Representative of the International Pushkin Charity Fund concerned with the preservation and conservation of the legacy of the great poet, Alexander Pushkin. In 1997, Julia was engaged as a Director for the Stars of St. Petersburg Ballet Tours, presenting fully staged productions throughout the western states of the U.S.A. regularly. Her achievements are numerous and she has proved to be a popular host. OUR VIEW It s a Western cliché to speak of St Petersburg as not Russian. Certainly it s not, St Petersburg is Russia s graceful offspring of the 18th century - a challenge to Europe, neither entirely Western nor entirely Russian, but something entirely its own. For two hundred years St. Petersburg was the capital of Russia and the centre of all that was best culturally, artistically, and scientifically. Every monument, every street speaks of a great past, of poetry, music, adventure. Splendid baroque and neoclassical palaces rich with their memories look majestic and silent in the diamond-bright frosts of winter. A highlight is the Hermitage, one of the greatest museums in the world with its encyclopaedic collection. The architectural complex in which it is housed is one of the wonders of the world. It reflects the legendary extravagance of its interiors. St Petersburg is the traditional home of the Russian ballet. A great cultural event took place in May 2013 when the second New Stage of the Mariinsky theatre was opened next to the 19th century Mariinsky and is already famous for its unique modern technology, excellent acoustic and magic onyx interiors. It is always a great pleasure of mine to take our guests around the beautiful Turgenev House. First we have a glass of champagne in the Drawing Room followed by a tour. The house has been furnished with museum quality items, there are a lot of priceless objects of art in each room. In the cosy Library there is a very good collection of books. The walls are decorated with portraits of the Romanov Family. Our house keeper Vica is a wonderful chef who never fails to impress our guests with the quality of food she serves in the wonderful candle lit tented Dining Room. I look forward to welcoming you to my city. Elena Spiro Tour Manager The Summer Palace at Peterhof

3 Catherine Palace at Pushkin in winter The magnificent Winter Palace and Hermitage Museum WINTER OR SPRING IN ST PETERSBURG DEPARTURES: 7th to 12th October; 22nd to 27th October; 7th to 12th November; 21st to 26th November; 2nd to 7th December 2014; 16th to 21st January; 6th to 11th February; 20th to 25th February; 14th to 19th March; 28th March to 2 April; 17th to 22nd April 2015 The Itinerary Day 1 London to St Petersburg. Fly by scheduled flight. Drive to Turgenev House in the historic centre of the city. Meet for pre-dinner drinks in the Drawing Room, followed by dinner. Day 2 St Petersburg. This morning meet after breakfast for an introductory tour of the city which will take us past many of the city s fine aristocratic buildings and palaces including the Peter & Paul Fortress, one of Russia s most famous historical fortresses, built in The day of its foundation is considered to be the birthday of the city. Soon after its construction the Fortress lost its military importance and for 200 years served as a political prison. In the grounds of Peter & Paul Fortress we visit the Cathedral which is the burial place of the Romanov Dynasty. We end with a guided walk to St Isaacs Cathedral, one of the world s largest and which is famous for the richness of its interior decoration. It impresses the observer by its majestic architecture and by the equally splendid murals, paintings, mosaics and sculptures. Return to the house for lunch. This evening join your host for dinner in one of St Petersburg s most atmospheric restaurants. Day 3 St Petersburg. Today we visit the incomparable Hermitage Museum which contains hundreds of thousands of works of art. The museum today is possibly the greatest in the world. One of the five buildings of the Hermitage Art Gallery Complex is the Hermitage Theatre that hosts exhibitions and concerts, and the hanging gardens are known around the world for their exquisite beauty. Enjoy lunch in the museum followed by a tour of the magnificent Winter Palace, home of the imperial family before the revolution. Tonight we enjoy dinner at the house. Day 4 St Petersburg. After breakfast we depart the city for a visit to Pushkin and the magnificent Catherine Palace. Almost destroyed by invading troops during WWII, the Catherine Palace has seen many changes during its time. Built in 1717 for Catherine I, it has been updated numerous times to reflect the personalities of each royal resident. Starting out as a summer pleasure palace, it now stands at around 325 meters across in a blaze of white, gold and blue. The interior houses numerous artworks exuding luxury and beautiful rooms including the Amber Room, justly regarded by some as the eighth wonder of the world. It caused admiration throughout two centuries until it was looted by the Nazi soldiers during WWII. It has now been brought back to life and was unveiled in 2003 for the 300th birthday of St Petersburg. Outside the palace is the divine Catherine Park, comprised of two parts including the old garden and English Park, which was designed by master Dutch gardeners. Lunch will be taken in a local restaurant followed by the afternoon at leisure. In the early evening we plan to attend a performance at the Mariinsky Theatre. The Mariinsky Theatre was built in 1860 for Alexander II s wife Maria Alexandrovna. Known for many years as The Kirov, its Soviet Era name, the internationally renowned theatre has seen the rise and fall of many Russian stars. Today, it is best known for its ballet and is one of Russia s leading opera houses. Return to the house for a late supper. Day 5 St Petersburg. This morning we will visit the Russian Museum, the treasure house of Russian national art, including the Benois Wing named after the famous architect, Leon Benois, who designed it from The museum boasts great Russian art, including the Socialist Realism works of the Stalin era, and countless masterpieces including 12th century icons and 21st century paintings. We will have lunch close to the museum and then take a stroll to the Church on Spilled Blood. Work started on the church in 1883 at the site where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated two years earlier. It took twenty four years to complete. The exterior is rather fabulous and the interior has been wonderfully restored with walls lined with mosaics mimicking famous Russian artworks. The church has a distinctive golden onion dome and lovingly restored features, including the granite plaques displaying historic happenings from Alexander II s reign. Enjoy some free time this afternoon. Tonight, drinks in the house will be followed by dinner in a popular St Petersburg restaurant with a Russian folk show. St Isaac s Cathedral and the Moyka River Day 6 St Petersburg to London. Morning visit to the Palace of Pavlovsk which originally belonged to Emperor Paul I and his wife Maria Fedorovna. Catherine the Great gave them the land and appointed her favourite architect Charles Cameron to start the construction of the Palace, to commemorate the birth of their son and heir Alexander I in At the end of the 18th century Pavlovsk Park was the largest landscaped area in the world. Johann Strauss made Pavlovsk an important musical centre when he was invited to participate at concerts there. Enjoy lunch before transferring to the airport for your return scheduled flight to London.

4 Palace and gardens of Pavlovsk St Peter and Paul Fortress at sunset Golden Drawing Room in the Hermitage Musem Church on Spilled Blood WHITE NIGHTS IN ST PETERSBURG DEPARTURES: 2nd to 9th July & 12th to 19th July 2015 The Itinerary Day 1 London to St Petersburg. Fly by scheduled flight. Drive to Turgenev House in the historic centre of the city. Meet for pre-dinner drinks in the Drawing Room, followed by dinner. Day 2 St Petersburg. This morning meet after breakfast for an introductory tour of the city which will take us past many of the city s fine aristocratic buildings and palaces including the Peter & Paul Fortress, one of Russia s most famous historical fortresses, built in In the grounds of Peter & Paul Fortress we visit the Cathedral which is the burial place of the Romanov Dynasty. We end with a guided walk to St Isaacs Cathedral, one of the world s largest and which is famous for the richness of its interior decoration. Return to the house for lunch and this evening join your host for dinner in one of St Petersburg s most atmospheric restaurants. Day 3 St Petersburg. Today we visit the incomparable Hermitage Museum which contains hundreds of thousands of works of art. The museum today is possibly the greatest in the world. One of the five buildings of the Hermitage Art Gallery Complex is the Hermitage Theatre that hosts exhibitions and concerts, and the hanging gardens are known around the world for their exquisite beauty. Enjoy lunch in the museum followed by a tour of the magnificent Winter Palace, home of the imperial family before the revolution. Tonight we enjoy dinner at the house. Day 4 St Petersburg. After breakfast we depart the city for a visit to Pushkin and the magnificent Catherine Palace. Almost destroyed by invading troops during WWII, the Catherine Palace has seen many changes during its time. Starting out as a summer pleasure palace, it now stands at around 325 metres across in a blaze of white, gold and blue. The interior houses numerous artworks exuding luxury and beautiful rooms including the Amber Room, justly regarded by some as the eighth wonder of the world. It caused admiration throughout two centuries until it was looted by the Nazi soldiers during WWII. It has now been brought back to life and was unveiled in 2003 for the 300th birthday of St Petersburg. Outside the palace is the divine Catherine Park, comprised of two parts including the old garden and English Park, which was designed by master Dutch gardeners. Lunch will be taken in a local restaurant followed by the afternoon at leisure. In the early evening we plan to attend a performance at the Mariinsky Theatre. Return to the house for a late supper. Day 5 St Petersburg. This morning we will visit the Russian Museum, the treasure house of Russian national art. The museum boasts great Russian art, including the Socialist Realism works of the Stalin era, and countless masterpieces including 12th century icons and 21st century paintings. We will have lunch close to the museum and then take a stroll to the Church on Spilled Blood. Work started on the church in 1883 at the site where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated two years earlier. It took twenty four years to complete. The exterior is rather fabulous and the interior has been wonderfully restored with walls lined with mosaics mimicking famous Russian artworks. Enjoy some free time this afternoon. Tonight, drinks in the house will be followed by dinner in a popular St Petersburg restaurant with a Russian folk show. Day 6 St Petersburg. Peterhof is known as the Russian Versailles and located on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland. This was Peter the Great s summer residence and was badly destroyed during World War II. After the destruction, the rise of the new Peterhof palace took place and the grandeur of the buildings and the grounds were restored, the water fountains became the essence of the place. The gem of Peterhof is Peter s favourite cottage known as Monplaisir. In front of it is a small cozy garden adorned with fountains, statues and flowerbeds including two trick fountains dating back to the Petrine era. After lunch at Peterhof we will return by hydrofoil. Dinner at the house this evening. Day 7 St Petersburg. After breakfast we take a boat trip: Rivers & Canals of St Petersburg. A city built over forty two islands, St. Petersburg is surrounded by water and interlaced with a complex web of rivers, canals and channels that seem to bind the city together, while also marking the borders of its different districts and neighbourhoods. St. Petersburg s low-rise classical architecture means that great vistas of the city are often visible from the water, and therefore an essential part of any exploration of the city is to get out in a boat and cruise the rivers and canals. After lunch in a local restaurant we have some time at leisure. Farewell drinks and dinner at the house. Day 8 St Petersburg to London. Morning visit to the Palace of Pavlovsk which originally belonged to Emperor Paul I and his wife Maria Fedorovna. Catherine the Great gave them the land and appointed her favourite architect Charles Cameron to start the construction of the Palace, to commemorate the birth of their son and heir Alexander I in Enjoy lunch before transferring to the airport for your return scheduled flight to London Prices per person based on double occupancy WINTER & SPRING WHITE NIGHTS IN ST PETERSBURG IN ST PETERSBURG Twin Bedroom Four Poster Bedroom Master Bedroom Prices for sole use are available on request. Price Includes: Economy class scheduled return air travel, five or seven nights accommodation at Turgenev House, full board, wine with meals in the house, a selection of bar drinks in the house, best tickets available for a performance at the Mariinsky*, sightseeing excursions as described, entrance fees, transportation, airport taxes, gratuities. Not Included: Travel insurance, Russian visa. NB. The final itinerary may vary from date to date depending on opening days of the sites we are visiting. * Details for Mariinsky performances will be advised in your pre-departure tour information approximately six weeks before departure. +44 (0)

5 Master Bedroom TURGENEV HOUSE Drawing Room Built in the 19th century, the Turgenev House has been home to a number of prominent Russians including Tolstoy, and takes its name from Ivan Turgenev who lived there between 1860 and This unique St Petersburg apartment is situated on the 2nd floor, in a prime location overlooking the Fontanka River, only fifty yards from the famous Anichkov Bridge and Nevsky Prospekt and within walking distance of the Winter Palace Square and Hermitage Museum and the Russian Museum. Kitchen Featured in numerous architectural and interiors magazines, this exquisite apartment was designed and furnished by the eminent Russian scholar and art historian John Stuart. Stuart was amongst the first in St Petersburg to embark on the interior restoration of one of the many magnificent buildings in the city. In a Jonathan Dimbleby documentary for the BBC, it was described as a historical gem and one of the most sought after places to stay in St Petersburg. Your Accommodation With three bedrooms, the apartment sleeps six. In addition to your host, Julia or Elena, guests are looked after by a housekeeper and cleaner, Lena and Lillia, who speak English, Russian and Italian. Each room is a work of art; a grand statement of colour and style dressed with fine fabrics, antique furnishings, and rare artworks. All the advantages of a home from home and the facilities of a first class hotel hotel. The apartment offers space, privacy, home comforts and a personalised level of hospitality and service. The bedrooms are all tastefully decorated with exquisite comfort in mind. Volga linen, large bath towels and individual hand towel are all supplied. Master Bedroom (Pink Room): A spacious and luxurious double bedroom with a canopied mahogany sleigh bed, marble en suite shower room with under floor heating, walk-in cupboard, en suite dressing room with day bed leading to en suite marble bathroom with bath. Four Poster Bedroom (White Room): A spacious and luxurious double bedroom with four poster bed. Ante room lined with brown paper leading to walk-in-cupboard and leading to an en suite marble bathroom with underfloor heating and bath. Twin Bedroom (Yellow Room): A smaller, twin bedded room with adjacent shower room. Your space Drawing Room: This grand room with large windows overlooks the Fontanka river and is an impressive example of early 19th century Russian Imperial style. It has marble effect walls, birch veneer and gilded double doors and an 18th century parquet floor originally from the Alexander Nevsky Monastery. Dining Room: The atmospheric, Napoleonic style, silk-lined, green and red tented dining room seats up to ten people in comfort. Green Room: An ante room between the drawing room and library; with seating for four it is a quiet place to read a book. Blue Room: Relax after a day of sightseeing in the library, which is furnished in early 19th century Scottish style with seating for six. Kitchen: Breakfast for six is laid informally in the kitchen, using the attractive Lomonosov blue and white gilt china. Tea & coffee trays with snacks are always available in the kitchen. Entrance Hall: with 24 hour security personnel located on the ground floor. Other Facilities Internet Access DVD Player with some dvds Bang & Olufson flat screen TV with satellite channels CD Player Telephone by arrangement Four Poster Bedroom Dining Room View through to the Green Room and Blue Room Twin Bedroom

6 Noble Caledonia 2 Chester Close, Belgravia, London, SW1X 7BE +44 (0) info@noble-caledonia.co.uk Our current booking conditions apply to all reservations and are available on request. Cover images: Front - The Catherine Palace; Back - St Petersburg in the snow NC_CC_006_100414_T