One Day Hermitage & Peter and Paul (Includes Visa)

A full day of sightseeing includes visits to the Hermitage, the world's famous art treasury, and Peter & Paul Fortress, a place where the city got its start along with a local food market and lunch stop. You will see the history and how people currently live in this city. WHAT YOU VISIT The Hermitage - The Tsar's former Winter Palace and four other buildings that house one of the world's premier art collections. Your three to three and half hour guided tour visits the display of rooms, which contain over three million art works, including paintings by Da Vinci, Rafael, Monet, Rembrandt, Renoir to name a few. Designed by Rastrelli, the Baroque Winter Palace boasts patterned parquet floors, ornate staircases, molded and decorated ceilings and gold gilded appointments. The building inside and out is one not to be missed. Peter and Paul Fortress - Originally built to protect the city from Swedish attack, the fortress soon became Russia's “Tower of London”, a place for political prisoners - including Peter the Great's own son. The Peter and Paul Cathedral - The city's tallest structure in the days of Peter the Great and even today only the television tower exceeds it in the height. The ornate interior boasts gilded iconostasis, 18th century paintings and icons - and the tombs of many Tsars and Tsarinas, including Peter the Great and Catherine the Great. Experience the Food Market and Shopping, what many of us might call a farmers market plus . Here you will see where locals sell fruits and vegetables from their dacha (country houses) as well as imported goods and other foods. You will see how the residents of today’s St Petersburg live. In the market you will find dried fruits, cheese, honey, meats and more . Even if you do not by anything you will learn what things cost and more about the people of this fine city. You will also see places to purchase souvenirs and gifts along the way. You can usually bargain a bit over prices and your guide can help. PHOTO STOP OPPORTUNITIES – Admissions not included Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood - This recently restored church sports an ornate and exaggerated "Russian-style" exterior and is built on the site where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated Time to walk the exterior for some good photos. St. Isaac's Cathedral - The cathedral's massive central gold dome, one of the largest in the world, dominates the city skyline. Cruiser Aurora - Now a museum on the west bank of the Neva, the armored cruiser Aurora fired her guns to signal the beginning of the Bolshevik Revolution. Time will be provided today for a lunch stop, not included.

Departures (Local Time)

9:30 AM (Hours: 8-9 hrs)