Lots of cities claimed to the title of being Russia's «third capital», but Kazan, which in 2005 celebrated its millennium, rightfully got this name. The city, located at the intersection of trade routes between east and west, remembers both the Golden Horde khans, and the storming of the 150-thousandth army of Ivan the Terrible and the fire of the revolution. This program will acquaint you with history and culture of one of the most amazing and ancient cities in Russia where two religions peacefully coexist: Christian and Muslim.
Day 2. KAZAN
- Breakfast on the train
- Arrival in Kazan, meeting with your guide at the railway station
- Sightseeing tour of Kazan, walking tour along Bauman street
- Guided tour of Kazan Kremlin
- Lunch in a city restaurant, Tatar cuisine
- Excursion to The Chak-Chak Museum and Chak-Chak cooking master-class
- Arrival to the Hotel Ibis Kazan Center 3*, check-in
- Evening at leisure. Overnight at the hotel
DAY 3. ISLAND SVIYAZHSK – MOSCOW
- Breakfast at the hotel, check-out
- Meeting with your guide, departure to island Sviyazhsk by hydrofoil (30 min on the way)
- Walking tour of the island
- Excursion to the wooden Holy Trinity Cathedral- the oldest Orthodox Cathedral of Tatar land dated 1551
- Visit of “Lazy market place”- former market place of the island where nowadays a historical reconstruction center is located
- Lunch in a local café
- Excursion to the Sviyazhsk Historical Museum
- Departure to Kazan by hydrofoil (30 min on the way)
- Free time in Kazan city center
- Transfer to the RW station
- Departure to Moscow by night train (tickets are NOT included)
DURING THE TOUR YOU WILL SEE:
- Kazan is a city with a thousand-year history, located on the left bank of the Volga River at the confluence of the Kazanka River. Major port, the capital of Tatarstan Republic, the city of two cultures, tourist center which is visited by more than 2 million tourists every year. You will start your acquaintance with sightseeing city tour and walking tour along Bauman street, one of the most ancient streets in Kazan having existed in the time of Kazan Khanate. This ancient street will lead you to the pearl of the city – the Kazan Kremlin, a grandiose architectural complex included in the UNESCO heritage list. The Kremlin was laid down in the 10th century. After the storming of Kazan in 1552 by the troops of Ivan the Terrible it was expanded and wooden defenses were replaced with stone. At the present time the Kazan Kremlin occupies an area of 1500 hectares. As before it is the center of political life where the residence of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan is located. After lunch where you will enjoy Tatar cuisine a visit to an unusual museum awaits you. This is the Chak-Chak Museum where you will learn all about history and recipes of the favorite national dessert, drink fragrant tea from a samovar, taste this unique Tatar dessert and try to cook it.
- Sviyazhsk is the first Russian settlement in the area, founded in 1551 by Ivan the Terrible as a Russian base for his campaigns against the Kazan Khanate. The history of Sviyazhsk is unique as dismountable wooden fortress, comparable in size to the Moscow Kremlin, was built in Uglich, launched on rafts down the Volga and assembled on site in just a month. Sviyazhsk, not Kazan, was the capital of the entire region for a long time. During the sightseeing tour around the island you will visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral, the only building preserved from the first wooden fortress where Ivan the Terrible prayed before the capture of Kazan. You will take a stroll along “Lazy market place” where you’ll immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a medieval fair and visit artisan shops. After lunch you’ll set off on excursion of Sviyazhsk History Museum to learn everything about the life of the ancient city from the moment of its foundation to the present day.
| The cost of such an event |  |
from 182 euro per pax (in groups from 30 pax) | |
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