Moscow – St. Petersburg
Discover provincial pleasures in fairy towns on the Volga River
These historic towns spread in an arc between Moscow and the Volga, with their picturesque old churches and walled monasteries, never fail to fascinate the travelers. They are often referred to as the Golden Ring of Russia. "Golden" for the gold of the church cupolas rising into the sky above them. "Ring" - because the tour will guarantee you an endless chain of novel experiences.
The approach to Uglich is one of the most memorable sights of a cruise along the Volga. Founded in 937, it flourished during the 13th and 14th centuries, and was favoured in the 16th by Ivan the Terrible. Not only Ivan did use Uglich as a base for his campaigns against the Golden Horde, but he also selected the town as the location of his seventh wife's honorary exile from Moscow. Upon Ivan's death, his son Dmitry joined his mother here, only to be brutally murdered by Boris Godunov as part of his campaign to seize the crown. On the spot where the murder took place, the magnificent Church of Dimitry-on-the-Blood was built. The largest monument is the Uglich Kremlin in the city centre. Among the lush greenery there stand the Chambers of Tsarevich Dmitry (15th century), the Transfiguration Cathedral (18th century) and the Church of the Nativity of St. John the Precursor (17th century).
A unique monument of the 16th - 19th - century town-planning, Kostroma is one of the few Russian towns which have preserved their distinctive character. Everything is unusual in Kostroma: the central square is called "The Frying-pan" by the local people; the fire observation tower looks more like a church or palace in empire style, while the streets radiate from the centre the way Empress Catherine II wished it. The city is justly considered to be the home of the Romanov royal family and the Ipatyev Monastery became the family's sacred place: it was from there that Mikhail Romanov was called to occupy the Russian throne.
Among the precious jewels of old Russian cities Yaroslavl shines with a particular bright, unfading light. Founded in 1010 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise, the city prospered as a trading port and a center of textile manufacture, becoming by the 17th century the second largest city in Russia after Moscow. It was here that the first Russian theatre was founded in 1750 by the talented Fyodor Volkov and the year 1786 saw the first publication of a Russian provincial magazine. No other city in Russia except Yaroslavl can boast such a wealth of the 17th - century architecture. Among the architectural gems that you'll see during the city tour is the Church of Elijah the Prophet. Built in 1647-50, the church features frescoes painted in 1680 by renowned local artists.
The church's lace-like iconostasis, undertaken in 1696, is regarded as a masterpiece of Russian Baroque. The main sightseeing destination in Yaroslavl is the ensemble of the Monastery of the Transfiguration of Christ. Founded in the 12th century, the monastery is one of the oldest on the Volga and a regional sentimental favorite.
Welcome to the Northwest of Russia, the village of Goritsy, home to the Resurrection Convent, standing at the shoreline. From Goritsy a bus will drive you to the town of Kirillov, 8 kilometers away, to tour one of the major Orthodox strongholds of Old Russia, the Monastery of St. Cyril on the White Lake. Founded in the 14th century, the monastery has preserved its remarkable architecture and fascinates the visitors by its majestic churches enclosed within austere fortress walls. The monastery is also famous for its museum of icons some of them are the oldest in Russia.
Situated to the northeast of Lake Onega, the island of Kizhi is home to the open-air museum of fascinating wooden architecture. Walking on the island, you can see old wooden churches, chapels, bell towers, peasant houses, granaries, barns, windmills, bathhouses which were all brought from around the Onega region to illustrate the architecture common to the Russian North.The focal point, referred to as the Kizhi Ensemble, comprises the awe-inspiring 22-domed Transfiguration Cathedral (1714), the neighboring Church of Intercession (1774) and the bell tower between the two. Another significant structure is the modest Chapel of the Resurrection of Lazarus. Built in 1391, it is the oldest standing wooden church in Russia.
Inhabited by talented craftsmen, Mandrogui is a reconstructed village, built on the bank of the Svir River to illustrate the traditions and lifestyle of Russia's past. Experience provincial Russian lifestyle, watch the artisans and craftsmen making “matryoshkas” (Russian nesting dolls), carving wood, sewing, and ... visit the Vodka Museum, which boasts 250 varieties of the national drink.
Svirstroy is a tiny country-side settlement which is situated on the left bank of the Svir River. It is famous for its natural lake and very picturesque landscapes. You can see provincial food stores there and also try local smoked fish (pollan).