➤ Breakfast
➤ The Winter Palace/Hermitage guided tour
➤ The city sightseeing tour visiting: St. Isaac's Cathedral, Kazan Cathedral, the Church of the Spilled Blood
Please take note that due to logistic issues we might occasionally amend the sequence of the tours.
Today you visit the Hermitage in St. Petersburg - a journey through time, art, and the intricate tapestry of Russian history. As you step into this magnificent museum, you'll find yourself surrounded by opulence and grandeur that reflect the power and ambition of the Russian Empire.
Built in the late 19th century, the Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood is a dramatic feast for the eyes, with an intriguing history. It’s shrouded in mystery and legend, stemming from the assassination attempt on Tsar Alexander II. Designed in the quintessential Russian Orthodox style of extravagant color and texture, it’s not difficult to see why the Church of the Spilled Blood took 24 years to complete.
After the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, the interior of the cathedral suffered significant damage. By the 1930s, the Soviets closed the church, following a broader trend of shutting down religious institutions across the country. It wasn't until 1997 that the cathedral was reopened to the public, following extensive restoration efforts to restore its former glory.