GOLDEN GATE OF OLD RUSSIA

GOLDEN GATE OF OLD RUSSIA

Vladimir – Suzdal

2 days / 1 night

DAY 1. Morning departure from Moscow.

Arrival in Vladimir founded in the beginning of the 12^th century, which had been the capital of the Ancient Russian State for more than 250 years. All great princes were crowned as Moscow sovereigns here until the middle of the 15^th century. Lunch at the local restaurant. Sightseeing tour of Vladimir, including Cathedrals of the Assumption and of St. Dmitry, the Golden Gate, and the Museum of lacquered miniature works. Italian architect Aristotle Fiorovanti made a special trip to Vladimir to see Assumption and St. Dmitry’s Cathedrals, so that he could build equal in the Moscow Kremlin. The Assumption Cathedral was not only the main church of the city, but its cultural, political and religious centre. It was also the main church of all Russia. Of exceptional artistic value are the 15^th century frescoes by Andrei Rublev, one of the greatest Russian artists. The Cathedral of St. Dmitry used to be part of the buildings of the prince’s court, and was one of the most beautiful and original cathedrals of ancient Russia. The most amazing feature of the cathedral is its white stone carving. The sculptured decoration has about 1500 carved stones. All the carvings communicate the general idea of glorifying the beauty and perfection of the world created by God. The Golden Gate is the only existing monument of military engineering architecture of ancient Russia. It was the main, most spectacular and imposing gate of North-Eastern Russia’s capital. Now it houses the museum of Vladimir history. Near the Golden Gate in the former Old Trinity Church there is the exhibition of Crystal and Miniature Lacquer Works. It was opened in 1974. Objects of decorative and applied art traditional for the Vladimir region are exhibited here: crystal and colored glass, miniature lacquer-work and embroidery.

Accommodation in Vladimir. Dinner at the hotel. OR

Departure to Suzdal. Accommodation. Dinner at the hotel.

DAY 2. Breakfast at the hotel.

Sightseeing tour round Suzdal - Vladimir’s youngest brother. Suzdal is a small town covering only 9 square kilometers (a hundredth of Moscow). However, it houses more than 200 old buildings. In 1983 the International Federation of Tourism Journalists and writers awarded the town the Golden Apple prize: it is only town in the country to receive such a high honor. The tour to this “City-museum” includes visit to the Kremlin, which is located on a winding bank of the Kamenka River in the heart of the Old Town. The formation of ensemble of the Kremlin had been continued for six centuries. One of constructions of the Kremlin is the Cross-Chamber, which was built in addition to the residential rooms and structures. It was the hall for official receptions of the bishop's quarters where the XVIII century interior has been re-created, where visitors will see tiled stoves, furniture of the period, portraits of tsars and clergymen.
Suzdal is the city of monasteries. There used to be fifteen monasteries, but only five of them survived. One of the most interesting monasteries is Spaso-Yevfimiev monastery. Founded in the middle of fourteenth century, the monastery has strong red walls 1200 meters long, twelve towers of XVII century, and buildings of XVI-XVIII centuries. Since XVIII century it was both a monastery and state prison. Three hundred and fifty detainees passed through cells of the prison. The main building of the monastery is the Cathedral of the Transfiguration (1594) built under traditions of the ancient white stone architecture of Suzdal. The interior of the cathedral was decorated with frescoes painted by Guri Nikitin and Sila Savin, well-known artists of the XVII century. At present the monastery is a museum complex that accommodates several museum exhibitions: "The Golden Treasury", "Book Treasures of Six Centuries", "Museum of the Arts of the Peoples of Russia", "Prisoners of the Monastery Jail".  Visitors to the monastery can also enjoy the bell ringing performed by one of the best bell-ringers of Russia.

During the tour round Suzdal tourists visit Museum of Wooden Architecture. It was founded in 1960. The windmills, the church and several wooden houses, barns, bathhouses and other structures brought from different villages in Vladimir Region are exhibited in the Museum.

Lunch at the local restaurant.  Departure to Moscow.