| |
The following are descriptions of some popular tours and sightseeing
activities in the Moscow Region. Note that some of these tours
are best accomplished with a private car, and that many museums
and other institutions are closed at least one day a week. In
addition many of these tours require lengthy walks that may
be challenging to those physically impaired.
We can help you plan your trip based on your interests and schedule.
A good first trip to Moscow could include:
 Capital
Tour
Kremlin
and Armory Museum
Red
Square and Kitai Gorod
KGB
Museum
Tolstoy's
Moscow
Pushkin
and Tretyakov Museums
A
trip to Sergiev Posad
This list ideally is a planning guide for you and for us, so
that we can create an itinerary that will maximize the time
the guides spend with you (for instance, many of the neighborhood
tours overlap with specific museums and other sights).
Categories:
Please write
to us at info@DiscoveringRussia.com or call
us at 1-212-758-8230 for a more complete list and to discuss you
interests.
An
Overview of Moscow:
CAPITAL tour of Moscow Whether this is your first visit to Moscow or you are
not familiar with the capital, this is an excellent way to see
the exterior of famous buildings and palaces to which you may
return at your leisure. You will get the panorama of the Kremlin,
Lenin Hills, Bolshoi Theater, Christ the Savior Cathedral, and
major Moscow streets and squares.
MOSCOW AT NIGHT From
a car in the evening you will see more in three hours than you
could ever cover on foot. You will drive through the downtown
area, and along the main street, Tverskaya. You will get a panorama
of the Kremlin and, from an observation platform, have a view
over the old and the new Moscow.
Kremlin
and Red Square:
KREMLIN and ARMORY MUSEUM. The small city in the center of Moscow,
once the residence of Czars and Patriarchs, now the seat of the
Russian government, contains Russia's main cathedral, the Assumption
Cathedral. The Armory collection of gold, silver and jewelry,
Faberge eggs, carriages and Czarist thrones is reason enough in
itself to visit Moscow.
RED SQUARE AND KITAI GOROD WALK The very center
of Moscow and indeed, of Russia. You will see churches dating
back to the fifteenth through the eighteenth centuries along the
narrow streets, as well as more modern edifices such as GUM, the
famous department store.
Architecture:
Russian
Art Nouveau at
the turn of this century differed from that in Western Europe,
and is manifested in many Moscow buildings by the work of two
architects in particular, Shekhtel and Kekushev. Some of their
buildings are easily seen, but some are hidden away on small side
streets.
The MOSCOW METRO was begun in the thirties and its various stations
show completely different styles and periods. Each station has
its own character.
CONSTRUCTIVIST mOSCOW The
architecture of early Soviet times. Its streamlined appearance
(often influenced by Le Corbusier) will remind visitors of late
Art-Deco.
sTALINIST mOSCOW: THE aRCHITECTURE OF iNTIMIDATION, often
called "Stalinist Baroque" or "Stalinist Gothic"
came about after 1934 as a three-dimensional form of Socialist
Realism. Its main purpose was to show the power of the Soviet
state. The apogee of this movement came in the late 1940's-early
1950's when seven skyscrapers, all similar in excessive appearance,
were built. Ironically residential buildings in this style are
as sought-after by Muscovites and expatriates as pre-War buildings
are in New York, for much the same reason.
Art
and Music:
TRETYAKOV GALLERY
contains Moscow's largest collection of Russian art
with representative pieces from ancient times through various
historical schools. (Closed Mondays)
PUSHKIN ART MUSEUM contains a remarkable collection,
including works from the Italian Renaissance and post-Renaissance,
ancient Egypt and Babylonia and, in particular, one of the best
Impressionist collections outside France. Some of the best pre-World-War
I Picassos and Matisses are in this collection (as well as the
Hermitage). (Closed Mondays)
RUSSIAN-SOVIET ART OF THE XX CENTURY. Visit the New
Tretyakov Gallery, where the new exhibits of Russian and Soviet
Art of the XXth century are displayed, including works by Chagall,
Kandinsky, Malevich and other masters. See works by Avant-Garde
artists, and see the history of Russian Avant-Garde starting from
the beginning of the 20th century. Follow the development of the
Socialist Realism in Art and feel the development of different
styles in Art from before the Revolution of 1917 through communist
times.
A tour for music lovers. You will visit the homes
of two giants of the early twentieth century, the composer Scriabin
and the great bass opera singer Chaliapin, whose voice you can
actually hear in some remarkable recordings.
Soviet
Times:
Visit the ANDREI SAKHAROV'S museum. The museum displays
archival documents, photographs and artifacts which narrate the
history of repression in the Soviet Union beginning with the 1917
October Revolution. The permanent exhibition also chronicles the
history of those movements who struggled for freedom of expression
and speech during the post-Stalin years.
A tour of the STALIN'S MOSCOW. You will see
the evidence of his personality in cultural and architectural
styles, and in the museum in The House on the Embankment, which
was a residence of many former high officials under Stalin, most
of whom were eventually arrested by him.
FROM THE SOVIET UNION TO RUSSIA. This tour leads you
to the White House neighborhood, memorable for the fighting during
the attempted coups of 1991 and 1993, when Russia underwent dramatic
changes in its political system and saw the fall of he Soviet
Regime. You will see places where former leaders, including Brezhnev,
Andropov and Beria, lived.
Meeting
Russians and Other Activities:
RED OCTOBER CHOCOLATE FACTORY. This is a great opportunity
to taste these famous Russian chocolates! You will have an opportunity
to visit this chocolate factory, just across the Moscow River
from the Kremlin. You will also be able to trace the history of
this company through the years with a visit to the factory museum.
Come to a COOKING CLASS with our cook who will teach you how to make
blinis (pancakes). You will have lunch after the demonstration
is completed.
A Moscow orientation program is designed for new-comers who
would like to shop in city markets beyond the exclusive foreign
stores. Not a sight-seeing tour, but instead, an introduction
to shopping, driving, public transportation, public telephones,
and the other everyday needs of Moscow residents.
A visit to a Moscow school. You will be led by
one of the teachers, meet some of the students, visit classes
and have a chance to talk about education, and school problems
with members of the staff.
Dinner in a Moscow APARTMENT WITH A RUSSIAN FAMILY.
Experience both hospitality and wisdom as you dine with the family
of a Moscow professional in their private apartment.
Moscow
History:
The History of Moscow
museum has exhibits showing the history of the city, from
its foundation 850 years ago to the present day, with many fascinating
artifacts, old prints and photographs.
The State Historical Museum was first opened in 1883, and after
extensive restoration was recently re-opened for the 850th Moscow
anniversary. The interiors are done in a nineteenth century style,
and of the 45 halls 13 are now re-opened to visitors. There are
exhibits of archeology from prehistoric days up to the founding
of the Russian State.
Military
Space and History:
MONINO AVIATION MUSEUM. You will trace the history
of Russian aviation, seeing many different types of aircraft.
The display includes models of the very earliest machines and
even some of the latest ones. A lot of them are full size, located
outside, and so present a good photographic opportunity.
MARSHAL ZHUKOV office. You have the unique opportunity
to visit the old Soviet Defense Ministry building with the office
of Georgy Zhukov, the most significant commander in the Soviet
history. The furniture has not changed since 1955 57 when Zhukov
worked there as the Minister of Defense.
STAR CITY (ZVYOZDNY GORODOK). You will visit the formerly
secret Space Center, where the cosmonauts live and are trained.
You will see examples of Russian space technology, prototypes
of spacecraft, the space-simulators, centrifuges, and space suites,
as well as the altitude chamber.
KGB MUSEUM. Visit the old KGB building, a focus
of Russians' dread for years. There are four rooms showing the
history of one of the world's most famous and feared security
organizations. There are displays of their methods, as uncovered
by former KGB agents.
Moscow's
Historical Neighborhoods:
Walk in a neighborhood dating back to old Moscow, celebrated
in song and poetry. You will walk along ARBAT STREET, the most typical area
of the old city, with tiny streets among well preserved and newly
renovated buildings.
A walk along Moscow's main street, TVERSKAYA,
will demonstrate how Moscow has changed in the last ten years,
both for the better and in some cases for the worse.
Walk in the Lubianka and Chistye prudy area around
the KGB building, an old downtown section which provides many
examples of nobles' mansions dating back to Peter the Great. You
will visit a splendid seventeenth century church, and Apraskin
Palace, a fine example of Moscow baroque.
PETROVKA NEIGHBOURHOOD. This old mercantile and artistic
neighborhood has many examples of Classic and Art Nouveau architecture.
Visit the "High Monastery" of St. Peter, with its many
links with Peter the Great. We also enjoy the coziness of the
Hermitage Garden, which includes the site where Stanislavsky founded
the MKhAT theater.
Religious
Moscow:
Day trip to SERGIEV POSAD. Sergiev Posad (Zagorsk)
is a traditional orthodox center, graced by the magnificent Trinity-St.
Sergius Lavra, with a blue and gold dome. Built in the fourteenth
century, it was for many years, even under communism, the official
seat of the Patriarch. It holds a wonderful collection of icons.
ICONS AND ORTHODOX CHURCHES. The tour will demonstrate
the principles of religious, artistic and political aspects of
Russian iconography.
JEWISH MOSCOW. Explore the life of the Moscow Jewish
Community during Soviet times and the present. You will visit
two synagogues and places associated with prominent Jewish intellectuals,
such as the poet Mandelstam, the actor Michoels and the architect
Joffan
NOVODEVICHY CONVENT AND CEMETERY is a charming place,
rich in the spirit of the past, hidden behind a wall in the twentieth
century inner city. The sculptured gravestones of famous Russian
artists, writers, and politicians illustrate the country's history
Visit the SPASO-ANDRONIKOV MONASTERY, and the oldest of Moscow's surviving
churches, Savior Cathedral. Its museum records it as one of the
earliest centers of iconography, and it was the site of the icon
school of Andrei Rublev.
The
Great Russian Writers:
DR. ZHIVAGO'S MOSCOW: Retrace the life of Boris
Pasternak, the Nobel-winning author of Dr. Zhivago. Visit
the room of Boris Pasternak's childhood overlooking the Pushkin
Museum (now in the Museum of Private Collections); see the school
his father supervised, paintings of the family by his father,
and the Peredelkino Estate outside of Moscow.
TOLSTOY'S MOSCOW: Visit the Tolstoy Museum and other sites
associated with War and Peace, Anna Karenina and
other masterpieces of world literature.
VLADIMIR MAYAKOVSKY IN MOSCOW: Visit the Mayakovsky Museum,
next to the KGB headquarters, where you will not only see artifacts
relating to the life of the most acclaimed poet of the Soviet
era, but an entire building in the image of one of his dreams.
Day
Trips Outside Moscow:
Sergiev Posad
and Abramtsevo. Sergiev Posad (Zagorsk) is a traditional
orthodox center, graced by the magnificent Trinity-St. Sergius
Lavra, with a blue and gold dome, and Abramtsevo village has a
lovely park and lake. There is a peaceful church of asymmetrical
design with unorthodox white folk carvings. Russian Art Nouveau
originated here.
An all day tour to NEW JERUSALEM, built in the seventeenth
century along the Istra River by Patriarch Nikon, who thought
the topography and the architecture there resembled the Holy Land.
He was eventually ousted from the church for his challenge to
the power of the Czar.
Trip to KLIN, the country home of Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky and
the place where he composed his last works, including the Nutcracker
Suite, and the sixth (Pathetique) Symphony.
Day trip to TULA and KULIKOVO BATTLEFIELD.
Take the trip to Kulikovo Field, where in 1380 the Russian victory
over the Tartars was the first significant event in the liberation
from the Tartar yoke. Enjoy the vastness of one of the largest
Russian fields, the picturesque Don River valley and the Kulikovo
Battle museum in the impressive Art Nouveau church. On the way,
visit the Samovar museum in Tula, the celebrated center of military
manufacture and crafts.
Day trip to VLADIMIR and SUZDAL.
Vladimir was the capital of Russia in the twelfth century
before the Mongol invasion; Moscow is its successor. The Assumption
Cathedral and Golden Gate are examples of white stone, pre-Mongolian
architecture. Suzdal has kept its seventeenth century character,
and has lovely churches, an old Kremlin and a museum of interesting
wooden architecture.
Day trip to YASNAYA POLYANA, Lev Tolstoy's estate,
where he wrote his great novels while his family was disintegrating,
and to MELIKHOVO, Anton Chekhov's home where he wrote "The
Seagull" and "Uncle Vanya".
|
|
|
|
|
