Exploring Russia
Russia is a land of cultural and artistic treasures and this is clear to see in the city of St. Petersburg. Perfectly placed on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea, St. Petersburg is one of the major port cities in Russia. With magnificent palaces and churches that characterize the city’s skyline; prepare to be wowed at this fascinating port of call.
The places that you must see include the ‘Hermitage Museum’, which was once the Winter Palace and houses one of the finest collections of art in the world with works by Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt and Matisse. ‘Catherine the Great’s Palace’ is next on the must see list as it features a 298 metre white, gold and blue façade and is crowned with golden onion domes and ‘St Isaac’s Cathedral’ is quite simply stunning, with its marble walls embossed with an array of semi-precious stones.
Mandrogui is set upon beautiful parklands on the banks of the Svir River and is littered with a whole host of colourful buildings. At this port of call you can discover an array of shops, arts and crafts workshops. And a lot of the river cruise ships offer Russia lessons when you get back on board so you can learn a little something along the way.
Kizhi is the next port of call and is the place to see an array of churches, temples and historical sites. This UNESCO World Heritage site is also home to ancient wooden buildings which fascinate everyone that visits. After this you can head to the Russian settlement of Goritsy. Situated near the famous St Cyril Monastery you can enjoy a whole wealth of exploring during your time here.
Russia’s capital Moscow is always a firm favourite with river cruise travellers. You can visit the onion domes of St Basil’s Cathedral, the legendary Red Square, the famous Kremlinm, Novodevichy Convent and enjoy incredible scenic views from the Sparrow Hills. You can explore fascinating European art in the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum, take a stroll through the ever so beautiful Gorky Park or even shop for some bargains at the Izmailovo Flea Market. There really is something everyone in Russia’s capital.
The Russian themed fun doesn’t end once you get on board your river cruise either. You can expect your Russian waterways experience only heightened as cruise lines such as Viking River Cruises provide guests speakers who give informative and fascinating lectures on each and every destination that you visit. What’s more you can even expect Russian cuisine, with the chefs preparing food which reflects the culture of each port that you visit.