Organized by Nikolai and Tatiana Yermolayev
Niki and Tanya were the organizers of our 2003 trip
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 SOANE TRAVELS: St. Petersburg & Novgorod
Travel with us for this extraordinary experience of the longest day of the year and in one of the most amazing places for architecture, art and the decorative arts. This special opportunity is reserved for 24/26 discerning travelers who are looking for a journey to these historic cities.
In 2008, summer solstice is Saturday, June 21st and is the center point of the two-week long White Nights celebration. White nights (beliye nochi) is a curious phenomenon caused by St. Petersburg's very northerly geographical location - at 59 degrees 57' North (roughly on the same latitude as Oslo, Norway, the southern tip of Greenland and Seward, Alaska). St. Petersburg is the world's most northern city with a population over 1 million, and its stands at such a high latitude that the sun does not descend below the horizon enough for the sky to grow dark. (In fact, night becomes curiously indistinguishable from day, so much so that the authorities never need to turn the city's streetlights on!) |
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Travelers can plan to depart from USA on Thursday evening, flying to Europe or Moscow for a connecting flight onwards to St. Petersburg. We will be staying at one of the top hotels in town, the historic Hotel Astoria overlooking St. Isaac's Cathedral and Cathedral Square. Forbes Magazine in April 2007 described the hotel as "St. Petersburg's most glamorous hotel... step into the lobby and you are transported into an elegant world of sleek secessionist design, Russian history..."
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The cost per person includes 8-nights in hotels, breakfast each day, six lunches and all dinners including evening cocktails or receptions, local transportation by private deluxe coach, all entries and guides.
Cost: $8,980* double occupancy for a classic room facing the courtyard.
*includes a $1,000 donation to the foundation. As we are billed for hotels, buses, food, etc. in Euros, this price is calculated using an exchange rate of 1.38 euro to the dollar -- if there are any drastic changes up or down in the exchange, we reserve the right to come back to you to request a supplement, or we may be able to provide a rebate if the dollar becomes stronger...
Single supplement rate available at $1,930 additional for a classic room facing the courtyard.
Deluxe rooms with view over the street available for a surcharge of $400 per room
Superior rooms with view of Cathedral Square available for a surcharge of $800 per room.
A non-refundable deposit of $1,500** per person is due November 15, 2007.
**If the your place can be resold to another traveler, then $1,000 will be refunded
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The following is the current itinerary. All visits are subject to reconfirmation or change and substitution without notice. Our trip, limited to approximately 26 people, will include many of these highlights: |
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June 20, Friday
Arrival, private transfers to Hotel Astoria.
June 21, Saturday -- Summer Solsctice
- This morning we will enjoy an early entrance to the famed Hermitage Museum to see the Old Masters, Peacock Clock, and Gold Storage Room No. 2.
- We will start our city explorations with a tour featuring Baroque Architecture, also with visits to the Cabin of Peter the Great and the Peter & Paul Fortress.
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June 22, Sunday
- Another early entry to the Hermitage to see the French Impressionists and Gold Storage No. 2.
- City tour featuring Empire Architecture plus visits to the Menshikov Palace and the Stroganov Palace.
June 23, Monday
- Today we have our trip by hydrofoil to Peterhoff - official summer residence of Peter the Great - capital of fountains (64 fountains, 142 water jets, 17 statues) with the Grand Cascade. Visit the living quarters of Catherine the Great plus her gardens and private house. Visit to the private palace of Peter - Monplesir.
- Other visits to include Konstantinovsky Palace - naval residence of President Putin; and the recently opened villas presented by Nicholas I to his wife Alexandra and daughter Olga
June 24, Tuesday
- Today enjoy a trip to the nearby town of Tsarskoye Selo - once the official residence of Catherine the Great. Visit Gosudarev Sobor (Cathedral) and Fedorovsky gorodok - private places build by Nicolas II and his wife Alexandra in Neorussian style.
- Alexander Palace presented by Catherine to her beloved grandson Alexander, (architect Giacomo Quarengi), was the last residence of Nicholas II and his family. Walk in the garden, see children's house on the island and their pet cemetery.
- Visit to the Catherine Palace named after Catherine I (wife of Peter), built by Elizabeth (daughter of Peter) beloved by Catherine II, architect Bartholomeo Rastrelli. Horse ride in the gardens.
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June 25, Wednesday
- Trip to Pavlovsk, once the private residence of son of Cathrine II - Paul I who is called Russian Hamlet -similar faith. This unique palace has preserved the original style of the first owners who had great taste, built by Scottish architect Charles Cameron. We will be meeting with chief curator Alexei Guzanov. Also included will be a visit to the exhibition of Imperial Dresses
- Continue onward this afternoon to Gatchina - once the official residence of Paul I, built by his mother for her favorite Grigory Orlov, architect Antonio Rinaldi. Alexander III lived here after fatal assassination of his father Alexander II.
June 26, Thursday
- Trip to Novgorod - the ancient capital of Russia, where democracy was founded in the 12th century with ancient Russian architecture of 11th to 16th centuries: Kremlin with Sofiyaand Court of Yaroslav
- On the drive today we will also visit to the authentic monastery of the 16th century - Vyazhischi.
June 27, Friday
- St. Petersburg - capital of religions. With visits to some of the following: Synagogue, Catholic Cathedral, Mosque, St.Isaac's Cathedral, Alexander Nevsky Monastery, Church of the Savior on the Spilled blood, Kazan Cathedral
- Lunch today on your own.
- Afternoon at leisure to explore or shop.
- Farewell Gala dinner in the one of the palaces
June 28, Saturday
- Day for departures...
Please note that this itinerary is a work in progress and will continue to be updated and refined as details are confirmed. (August 2007 )
For further information and updated itinerary
contact the foundation at 212-223-2012 or Chas@SoaneFoundation.com
Sir John Soane’s Museum Foundation, 1040 First Avenue No. 311, New York NY 10022
Not included in rate: Airfare, alcoholic beverages other than when provided, meals not specified, personal expenses, trip insurance, transfers for those not using group flights.
RESPONSE FORM – SOANE TRAVELS: Russia
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