The Tsar's New Year's Eve Ball
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The Tsar’s New Year’s Eve Ball A small, intimate group tour through St. Petersburg and Moscow The social season in Imperial St. Petersburg began in autumn and ended with the coming of Lent in March. If you know your Tolstoy then you will remember that it was a blinding social whirl, but one in which some occasions could not be missed – a new opera at the Mariinsky, a ball at which absolutely everybody who was anybody would attend, and a concert at the Philharmonic. Well, you can put your book down, come with us and live for a little while the lives of the Stroganovs, and the Yusupovs, because although the fashions have changed and the carriages are now in the museums, the season in St. Petersburg still very much exists. The Basics 7 nights in extraordinary, deluxe hotels in the center of each city Expertly planned small group touring with top local guides Entrance Fees to all the sites mentioned in the program 24-hour, English-speaking local assistance in case of emergency or changes Highlights of Exeter’s Tsar’s Ball Tour View the snow-covered gardens of Pavlovsk Palace from your private troika sled (weather permitting) Walk the uncrowded halls of the Hermitage with an expert guide Attend the event of the season – the Tsar’s Gala Ball at Catherine Palace Experience privately guided tours of the Diamond Vaults and the Armory Museum at the Kremlin Easy to Combine with: Copenhagen or Stockholm Berlin or Munich Vienna, Prague or Budapest Day 1 December 28 Wednesday St. Petersburg Arrival into St. Petersburg, where you will be met by your private driver. Transfer to your hotel, The Four Seasons Lion Palace St. Petersburg, located in the center of the city. On the way to your hotel, you will pass by sights historical significance, including one of the last remaining statues of Lenin and the monumental Stalinist apartment buildings that line the route from the airport. After some time to rest, meet your guide in the lobby for an overview city tour of St. Petersburg including Nevsky Prospect, Vasilevsky Island for the best views of the city, the "prep school" to Russia’s noble class and St. Petersburg’s beautiful Grand Synagogue. You will have the opportunity to visit to Peter Paul Fortress: the birthplace of St. Petersburg. After walking through the many gates and across the bridges and moats, you can begin to feel the late 18th century era that required such fortification. As Peter’s original outpost against the Swedes, St. Petersburg was born from this fortress and its historical significance is felt to this day by the presence of every Romanov tomb from Peter the Great. Evening Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner. Dinner consists of three courses, mineral water, and coffee or tea. Exeter Services: Transfer; Half Day Guide Hotel: Rocco Forte Astoria Meal Included: Dinner Day 2 December 29 Thursday St. Petersburg This morning meet your guide in the hotel lobby. Today you will stop into the famous Yusupov Palace on the banks for the Moika Canal. You will have a private tour of the palace including its famous theater and Arabian Room. Your private palace guide will recount the story of Rasputin’s murder on this fascinating and mysterious tour! The palace is only opened by special request and you will be able to tour the entire palace with one of the museum’s on-staff curators. This tour is by appointment only and cannot be moved to another time or day. You will have lunch at a local restaurant. Next, you will see the ornate Church on Spilled Blood on Canal Griboyedova. The Church on Spilled Blood is so named because it stands on the spot where the Emperor Alexander II was assassinated on March 1, 1881. Its unique design was actually inspired by St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. This is the only church in the world covered completely inside and out by mosaics of tiles and precious and semi-precious stones. This is one of the most extraordinary buildings in St. Petersburg and is well worth the visit. During the Bolshevik revolution the church fell into a state of decline, and only recently has it been fully restored to its former glory. Across the street you will find a small souvenir market selling inexpensive Russian handicrafts. Exeter International Extraordinary Experience: The New Fabergé Museum St. Petersburg’s first Fabergé Museum, a must see, has opened at the Shuvalov Palace on the Fontanka Canal, close to the Imperial Anichkov Palace and just a short block from Nevsky Prospect. The palace houses the celebrated Fabergé collection of the Link of Times Foundation owned by Russian Entrepreneur Viktor Vekselberg, which, with its over 1500 choice pieces, now easily outranks the comparatively small collection of the Kremlin Armoury Museum. Mr. Vekselberg has assembled the most formidable collection in the world of works by this great Russian master craftsman, best known for his celebrated million dollar Imperial Easter Eggs. The private museum is open by appointment only with just a few visitors per hour allowed in. Special access is secured for Exeter International guests, and advance reservations are required. Exeter Services: Vehicle, Driver & Guide Hotel: Rocco Forte Astoria Meals Included: Breakfast; Lunch Day 3 December 30 Friday St. Petersburg A morning outside of the city to see Pavlovsk Palace, built by Paul I and his wife Maria. During your visit, enjoy a troika sled ride through the grounds of Pavlovsk (weather dependant). Pavlovsk Palace is the understated summer palace of the tsars. Started by Catherine the Great’s favorite architect, Cameron (a Scot), the palace was later finished by Paul’s and his wife Maria’s preferred architect, Andrei Voronykhin- a Russian serf who later became one of the greatest architects ever to work in Russia. (For those interested in Russian history, with a focus on architecture and design, you won’t want to miss reading Suzanne Massie’s Pavlovsk: the Life of a Russian Palace.) Lunch today is in the village of Pavlovsk. Lunch consists of two courses, mineral water, and coffee or tea. This afternoon’s visit to the Hermitage Museum will take you to another world; a time when Catherine the Great commissioned whole buildings to house an ever growing collection of the world’s finest art. The former Winter Palace now spans just about every artistic period from Greek and Roman collections to Matisse. This museum holds the largest collection of art in the world. Your guide will escort you through the entire museum, from its collection of Rubens to its da Vinci’s and beyond! Be sure not to miss the recently unveiled collection of French Impressionists that was thought lost after WWII. Later your guide will take you into the stately St. Isaac’s Cathedral. Its malachite and lapis lazuli columns are not to be missed! St. Isaac’s was built between 1818 and 1858, by the French-born architect Auguste Montferrand, to be one of the most impressive landmarks of the Russian Imperial capital. During World War II, the golden dome was painted gray to avoid its being targeted by Nazi fire. For those with strong legs, you can climb to the top of the cathedral’s dome for the finest views over St. Petersburg’s historic neighborhood. Exeter Services: Vehicle, Driver & Guide Hotel: Rocco Forte Astoria Meal Included: Breakfast; Lunch Day 4 December 31 Saturday St. Petersburg Day is at leisure to prepare for the evening event. Exeter International Extraordinary Experience: Gala Evening Tonight celebrate at the Tsar’s New Year’s Eve Ball at Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo for an unforgettable New Years Eve Gala (black tie). Music, dancing and exquisite dining will all be part of your gala experience. Exeter Services: Half-Day Vehicle, Driver & Guide Hotel: Rocco Forte Astoria Meals Included: Breakfast Day 5 January 1 Sunday St. Petersburg-Moscow This morning is yours at leisure to rest after your gala evening. Depart this afternoon on your high-speed train to Moscow. Your journey will take you through the picturesque Russian countryside. Business class seats are confirmed and a hot meal will be served at your seat. Upon arrival in Moscow, your guide will meet you for your transfer into the city center. On the way to your hotel, you will enjoy an overview city tour and pass by sights of historical significance, including Tverskaya Street, the Bolshoi Theater, the Lubyanka KGB Building and the Kremlin. This evening is yours to explore Moscow on your own. Exeter Services: Transfers (St. Petersburg & Moscow); Half-Day Guide (Moscow) Hotel: Four Seasons Moscow Meal Included: Breakfast; Lunch (Train) Day 6 January 2 Monday Moscow This morning your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby for the walk to the Kremlin. You will then journey into the Kremlin and through its expansive grounds. Please note that once inside the Kremlin, there is no place to stop to rest or to have a snack. We suggest a hearty breakfast this morning to tide you over for a late lunch. This is a long day of walking and standing, so please make sure to wear appropriate footwear. Inside the Kremlin, you will see the largest bell in the world – as well as the largest canon. Neither was ever used due to the enormous size! Also on the grounds of the Kremlin are three very important churches and your guide will take you through all that are of interest. We suggest you don’t miss the Assumption Cathedral, where all Russian tsars were crowned. Later, your guide will take you to the famed Armory Museum, including its vast collection of Imperial Russian artwork.