PSKOV - NOVGOROD

PSKOV - NOVGOROD

3 days / 2 nights

            DAY 1. Transfer to the Pskov from Saint Petersburg. Arrival in Pskov. Accommodation.  Lunch.

City sightseeing tour. During the tour you will get acquainted with history of the city and see main places of interests – the Pskov Kremlin, St. Trinity Cathedral, fortress construction, visit ancient Pskov churches of 14-16^th centuries, getting acquainted with Pskov Civil architecture. Also you will see well-known Alexander Nevsky monument. Dinner.

            DAY 2. Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to Izborsk – Pechory. The small town of Pechory (in English means Caves), a local centre, is situated near the Estonian border 53 kilometers away from Pskov. The main sight of the town is Holy-Pechory Assumption Orthodox Monastery of the caves, the oldest in Russia, being the monument of Russian culture and military history. Originally located in the caves, the monastery gave the name to the town.

On the way from Pskov to Pechory there is another ancient city – Izborsk. It is one of the oldest towns in Russia, originally it started its history from a small settlement. The remains of the 8 – 13^th century fortifications and other buildings are still hidden in the hill. From its rocky foot the Slavonic springs like subterranean waterfalls spurt out of the ground. They never freeze over. The old walls and towers of the fortress look as if they grow directly out of the earth of this magnificent land. 

Lunch. Transfer to Novgorod. Arrival in Novgorod. Accommodation.  City tour. During the city sightseeing tour you will get acquainted with history of the city and visit the main places of interest. Novgorod was founded in 9th century and become a birthplace of Russia. It is a city-museum with the splendid monuments of ecclesiastic and defense architecture of 12th - 14th cc. Novgorod’s architecture and painting are unquestionably the best example of world culture. The Novgorod Kremlin, is 11^th century citadel with unassailable walls and tall towers. Its oldest structure, St.Sofia’s Cathedral, amazes visitors with its great height (nearly 40 metres), its strength, spacious interior and acoustic qualities. The entire Kremlin grounds with all its structures, which have been restored, are the museum area. You will see Faceted Palace and "The Millenium of Russia" Monument. Dinner.

DAY 3. Breakfast at the hotel. After it you will enjoy a visit to unique open-air Museum of wooden architecture "Vitoslavlitsi" of incomparable beauty, which preserves flavor of the 16th century village with genuine wooden churches and peasant homes from around the region.  Not far from the museum there is the Yuriev Monastery. It is situated on the bank of the Ilmen Lake and provides unique opportunities to glimpse frescoes of antiquity. The Yuriev Monastery – working man's monastery. It was founded by Novgorod prince Jaroslav in the beginning of XI century. It is located 4 km away from Novgorod on the bank of the Ilmen Lake. Since 1989 it is a part of Novgorod diocese and has been working more than 10 years. There is Georgievski cathedral on the territory of the monastery - the most unique monument of XII century architecture, a princely tomb. Lunch.   Transfer to St. Petersburg.