Few countries have such a hold on people’s imaginations as Russia.
It’s vast scale and turbulent history conspire to intimidate as
well as enchant. But there is no reason to be overly worried. With a
bit of planning, and peace of mind in the form of some good travel
insurance, there are few countries that can offer such a
rewarding holiday. Here are a few of our favourite Russian
attractions.
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kremlin moscow
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Capital of Russia, home of the mighty
Kremlin and the legendary Red Square and the city that inspired
dozens of spy novels. This amazing city began as a small provincial
outpost but has become the cutting edge epicentre of Russia, with a
fascinating history and a hedonistic night scene. In Red Square,
feast your eyes upon the intensely coloured onion domed St Basil's
Cathedral – the subject of countless postcards and an enduring
symbol of Russia. You can also pay your respects to the father of
Communism, Lenin, whose sallow embalmed body has laid in the Square's
eerie mausoleum since his death in 1924. Not to be missed, and
opposite the mighty square is the golden domed Kremlin, Russia’s
political powerhouse, where many infamous tyrants and dictators have
conducted their business including Ivan the Terrible and Stalin.
There is so much on offer in this exciting Capital, including
internationally acclaimed museums and galleries, markets, boutique
shopping and restaurants, it’s hard to know where to start! Getting
around Moscow is easy using the metro system which was a gift to the
Soviet people from Joseph Stalin and a tourist attraction in itself,
take time to appreciate the elaborately decorated central stations.
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The Hermitage, St. Petersburg
Founded by Catherine the Great in 1762,
The State Hermitage is one of the oldest and largest museums you will
find anywhere. Housed in six buildings, including the spectacular
Winter Palace (former home of the Tsars and one of Russia’s great
sights, even without the collections that it contains) the Hermitage
is home to a remarkable a collection of art and historical treasures,
from around Europe and beyond. With almost three million items in its
charge, including the largest collection of paintings anywhere in the
world, you could keep visiting the Hermitage for the rest of your
life and you still
Lake Baikal,
Siberia
Located near the cities of Ulan Ude and
Irkutsk in Southern Siberia is the world’s deepest lake. At more
than 1.5km deep and 636km from north to south this enormous body of
crystal clear water contains one fifth of the world’s supply of
unfrozen fresh water. The water is still, despite increasing
environmental concerns, pure enough to drink and so clear and deep
that there have been reports of some people suffering vertigo while
swimming.
Peterhof Palace and Garden
(Petrodvorets)
Originally built as a formal garden for
the Tsar Peter the Great, the Petrodvorets are gardens of both
historical significance and elegance. The gardens still have more
than 80 of the original marble statues and sculptures, and also
houses Peter's Summar Palace, containing many of the Tsar's own
artifacts. The beautiful fountains in the gardens (Grand Cascade and
Samson Fountain) cannot be understated. The gardens themselves are
unbelievable in size and beauty, with fountains, cascades, and
gardens that are simply breathtaking. This is Russia so beautiful and
so unusual, grand in every way.
Nevsky Prospekt
Nevsky Prospekt is St Petersburg's main
avenue and one of the best known streets in Russia. It cuts through
the historical center of the city, and is adorned with wonderful
buildings, squares and bridges, and is home to the Arts Square,
Russian Museum, Kazan Cathedral, Grand Hotel Europe, National
Library, Alexandriinsky Theater and plenty more. The street is also
the hub for shopping and entertainment, and the nightlife for St
Petersburg.
State Russian Museum
The Russian museum is a state museum
hosting inspiring fine art and treasures, and is also an institute
for academic research. It was actually the first state museum of
Russian fine Art, established in 1895 under the Emperor Nicholas II's
decree. It is one of Russia's major cultural and educational centres,
and is where all the variety of Russian figurative art is
represented. It consists of many forms of art, and is certainly not
to be missed, holding a significant relevance to the culture and
history of Russia.
Tallinn
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Located by the Gulf of Finland, 80 km
south of Helsinki and just a short hop from St Petersburg lies
Tallinn, the charming capital of Estonia. With a medieval Old Town, a
jumble of medieval walls and turrets, needling spires and winding,
cobbled streets full of cafes, bars and shops, Tallinn cannot fail to
enchant. A must see is the Toompea (Cathedral Hill), the seat of the
central authority: first the Danish captains, then the Swedish and
Russian governors, today the Estonian government and many embassies.
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Novgorod
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The ancient and provincial town of
Novgorod is en route from St Petersburg to Moscow and a popular
pit-stop. This pretty town is of historic interest; being one of the
oldest towns in the country, and once the leading political and
cultural centre of Russia, when Moscow was just a small provincial
outpost. Explore the once powerful Kremlin in Novgorod which is now a
relic of the town’s once political significance. In the centre of
town you will find the impressive Cathedral of St Sophia, which is
possibly the oldest building in Russia, and the Church of Our
Saviour-at-Ilino with its breathtaking frescoes. Just out of town
visit the pictureque 12th Century Yurev Monastery and enjoy a scenic
boat trip down the Volkhov River.
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