Cultural Program

Day 4 – Friday, May 28th:  This is a day dedicated to experiencing and enjoying that treasures of Moscow’s rich cultural abundance.  This program is not included in the VC Trip and must booked and paid for in advance.  The full-day tour, including the Spartacus Ballet at the Bolshoi, can only be booked as an entire package.  We cannot offer portions of the day-tour at separate costs.

The deadline to register for the Cultural Highlights Day Tour is May 10, 2010.  Cancellations received after 9:00 AM Moscow Time on May 25, 2010  cannot be refunded. 

Our group will be led by knowledgeable English-speaking guide, and we will travel by a private mini-bus & driver. 

CULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS OF MOSCOW ITINERARY

09:00 – 10:00:   We will start with a leisurely panoramic tour of the highlights of Moscow via private mini-coach with an English speaking guide.  Sites will include some of the most beautiful buildings and venues in the city, as well as distinctive architecture from the Soviet era, modern achievements and of course, Red Square. 

10:00 – 11:00:   We will get off the coach and stroll through St. Basil’s Cathedral on a guided walking tour.  This richly decorated cathedral is one of the symbols of the city.  It was built in the period of 1555-1561 on the order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible in commemoration of the capture of Kazan.  The Cathedral is composed of nine church towers.  Each church is named after a patron saint's day and represents the greatest victories of the Kazan campaign in 1558.  The museum has a unique collection of icons from the XVI-XIX centuries as well as relics of decorative art.

11:00 – 13:00:  Our next stop will be one of the highlights of the day, the Grand Kremlin Palace.  Within the Kremlin is the Cathedral Square, the so-called "City of God" – six churches and cathedrals that edge the square.  Most of them are the work of Italian architects during the late 15th and early 16th Century.  The Armory, built in 1851 as a weapons factory, now houses a museum in which an enormous collection of Russian national treasures is on display, including the famous Faberge eggs, carriages, cookware and jewelry.

13:00 – 13:30:   From there, we will cross Red Square and visit the famous “GUM Department Store.”  The 100-year history of this architectural monument has made it a cultural icon.  GUM is an architectural masterpiece , housing a wide range of galleries, shops and boutiques.  Today, the structure is admired more for its stunning architecture than for the goods in the shops.  Our visit here will conclude with a stop at the Gastronom, a gourmet emporium featuring the finest elements of Imperial Russian cuisine including sturgeon, caviar, beluga caviar, fresh blinis, borscht, whole roasted pigs and other delicacies from all over the world that you can find in Russia today.

14:00 – 15:30:              After a brief visit to the Cathedral of  Christ Savior we will have lunch at Vanilla Restaurant.  One of the finest modern restaurants in Moscow with an extinguished wine cellar, Vanilla is located in the city center, opposite the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.  The interior is contemporary but luxurious and guests can enjoy a lovely view of the cathedral.  The menu is a fusion of traditional Russian ingredients with a light, modern touch. 

15:30 – 17:30:    After lunch, we will visit the State Tretyakov Art Gallery.  This is the national treasury of Russian fine art and one of the greatest museums in the world.  It is located in one of the oldest directs of Moscow – Zamoskvorechye, not far from the Kremlin.  The State Tretyakov Gallery was founded by the famous and wealthy merchant Pavel (Paul) Tretyakov in 1856.  Tretyakov was a patron of arts and gave considerable support to many celebrated artists such as Surikov, Polenov, Shishkin, Repin, and many others whose paintings belongs to the Gallery now.  The Museum boasts a enormous collection of Russian artists' paintings, sculptures and drawings dating from the XII-XX centuries. The collection contains more than 130,000 exhibits, ranging from Theotokos of Vladimir and Andrei Rublev's Trinity to the monumental Composition VII by Wassily Kandinsky and the Black Square of Kazimir Malevich.

19:00:    After having a chance to relax back at the hotel, we will go to the New Stage Theatre at the Bolshoi for a performance of the Spartacus ballet. 

22:00:    After the ballet, we will have dinner at DDL Restaurant.  The Russian Writer's Club is a well-known Moscow restaurant, re-opened after extensive reconstruction and renovation.  The restaurant is famous for its excellent food and service. It is located in the historical 100-years old building, in the center of the city.  The mansion originally belonged to Countess Olsufieva and was visited by Russian Emperor Alexander III.  The furnishings of clarified oak, ancient Chinese vases, stained-glass windows, and the antique clocks give it an exclusive, clubby atmosphere.  The food is an example of Russia’s greatest gifts to the world of fine gastronomy.

Price:      631 Euros based on a minimum of 10 passengers.

To Book: The deadline to register for the Cultural Highlights Day Tour is May 10, 2010.  Cancellations received after 9:00 AM Moscow Time on May 25, 2010  cannot be refunded.