ACQUAINTANCE WITH NOVGOROD LAND

We invite you to take a short trip to the ancient cities of the Northwest! Despite the close proximity, each of them chose their own, unique path in history. You will visit Novgorod - the largest trading city of Russia, member of the Hanseatic League; Staraya Russa - famous city of salt makers and balneological resorts; Valday - religious center which history is inextricably linked with Iversky Monastery. Just three days, three cities and three exciting stories!

DAY 1. ST. PETERSBURG – STARAYA RUSSA – NOVGOROD

• 07:30 – Departure to Staraya Russa from St. Petersburg by coach
• Excursion on the way
• Visit Dostoevsky House-museum
• Lunch in the Russian restaurant
• Sightseeing tour of the city with a tour of the resort "Staraya Russa", on the territory of which there are 9 mineral springs. A walk in the Park of the resort. Visit to the Transfiguration monastery and St. George's Church
• Check-in hotel****

DAY 2. NOVGOROD – VALDAY – NOVGOROD

• Buffet breakfast at the hotel
• 10:30 – Departure to Valday(141 km, 2,5 hours)
• Valday Bell Museum visit
• Lunch in a local restaurant
• Excursion to Iversky Monastery
• Return transfer to Novgorod (141 km, 2,5 hours)

DAY 3. NOVGOROD – ST. PETERSBURG

• Buffet breakfast at hotel
• Check–out from the hotel
• Excursion program in Veliky Novgorod with a visit to the Novgorod Kremlin, St. Sophia Cathedral, Yaroslav's Courtyard
• Bus tour to the current male Yuriev monastery, located at the source of the Volkhov near lake Ilmen, with a visit to St. George's Cathedral
• Excursion to the Museum of wooden architecture "Vitoslavlitsy" – an architectural and natural reserve of wooden architecture with Russian huts, churches, a blacksmith shop and items of peasant clothing and tools
• Lunch in a local restaurant
• Return transfer to St. Petersburg
• 21:30 – Arrival in St. Petersburg (200 km, 3 hours)

DURING THE TOUR YOU WILL SEE:

• Staraya Russa is an ancient town located at the confluence of the Porus and Polist rivers. It is famous for its mineral springs thanks to which the town first became one of the largest centers of salt production in Russia and then a large balneological center. You tour will start with excursion of Dostoevsky House – Museum, the first own house of the writer, who had previously lived only in rented apartments. The house became a real family nest of Dostoevsky family where the writer was able to move away from the bustle of the capital. “The Brothers Karamazov”, “Demons” and “The Raw Youth” were written there. Then you’ll set off on a sightseeing tour around the town – resort so beloved by the great writer. After lunch acquaintance with ancient history of the town, which dates back to the 11th century, is waiting for you! You’ll visit St. George's Church and the Transfiguration monastery founded in 1192 where Old Russian icon of the Mother of God is kept.

• Valday is a picturesque town, a popular tourist center, spread out on the shores of Lake Valdai. There is a magnificent Iversky Monastery on one of the islands.Your acquaintance with Valday will start with Bell Museum where you can not only watch the objects but also hear them. You will know why European bells sing and Russians speak, what crimson ringing is and what the Russian road sounded like a century and a half ago. You will hear the bell ringing performed by museum staff and try yourself to master this subtle art. After lunch you’ll visit Iversky Monastery founded in 1653 by Patriarch Nikon on the model of the Iversky Monastery on Mount Athos.

• Novgorod is one of the most ancient cities of Russia where in 862 the legendary Rurik began his reign. The city was not exposed to Mongol invasion thus it could preserve unique monuments of ancient Russian architecture that you will visit within your tour. First of all you’ll visit St. Sophia Cathedral, the main symbol of the city, built in 1045-1050 and securely sheltered by the powerful walls of the Novgorod Kremlin, a monument of military-defensive architecture included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Then you will go to the right bank of the Volkhov River where, opposite to the Kremlin, Yaroslav's Courtyard is located. It was ancient bargaining and place of veche meetings of the first republic in Russia. After acquaintance with the center of the city you’ll be invited to Lake Myachino, where on the southern shore there is a museum of wooden architecture "Vitoslavlitsy". It is a unique open-air museum where the oldest wooden architectural monuments of 16th century and residential and industrial buildings of the 18th – 19th centuries are collected. The final destination of your journey of Novgorod Land will be Yuriev monastery visit, one of the most ancient monasteries, according to legend founded in 1030 by Yaroslav the Wise.

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