Lost Palaces of the Czars
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"It was the dream trip of a lifetime. The special emphasis on Russian history and architecture was exactly what I wanted and exceeded all my expectations. Our tour leader was the best I've ever experienced. He knew his subjects, offered extra attention to every member of the tour and conveyed his knowledge with great good humor. All in all, I had a fantastic time!"
William Denton
Victoria, TX
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This first-class journey offers an exclusive introduction to secret palaces, forgotten halls, mysterious museums and locked rooms. Private tours guided by the directors of renowned museums, and fascinating lectures from the unusual perspective of a professor of Advanced Comedy Writing make our experience an exuberant celebration of the opulence of the old Russian Empire.
Professor Barry Goldsmith, whose three-part BBC series, “Lost Palaces of the Czars” airs in 2007, is our tour leader and inside man on this exclusive look behind the scenes at the Romanov’s favorite palaces. Professor Goldsmith, Emmy-award-winning comedy writer and holder of master’s degrees in architecture and architectural history, ushers us to off-limits sites and little-known imperial hideaways in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yalta and Kiev.
We survey the classic sights of beautiful St. Petersburg, adding little-known gems like Mikhailovsky Castle, which Paul I designed with a moat and drawbridge to safeguard himself from attack, and the palace ordered by the youthful last czar, Nicholas II, for his mistress, the ballerina Mathilde Kshesinskaya. We tour Alexander’s Palace, built by Catherine the Great, and the favorite residence of Nicholas after his marriage to Alexandra.
In Moscow our exploration is embellished with visits to off-limits Kremlin palaces, the rarely-visited Pitrovsky Palace, where Nicholas and Alexandra stayed during their coronation, and Ordynka convent, where Alexandra’s sister Ella cloistered herself after the death of her husband.
Moving on to Yalta, in Ukraine, we inspect the last palace built by the Romanovs, Livadia, where Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin divided Europe after WWII. We taste some of the czars’ favorite wines at Massandra Wineries, and visit Dulber Palace, from which a few lucky Romanovs escaped the Russian Revolution on a British warship.
We end our journey in Ukraine’s capital, Kiev, where we discover the few remaining Romanov sites left after the devastation of WWII.
Trip Details
| Length of Trip: |
14 Days |
| Departures in 2008: |
Tentatively scheduled for 2008 |
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| Land Tour Cost |
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| 8-16 travelers |
Call for pricing |
| Single Supplement |
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MIR Signature Features
- Tour the little-known palaces and hidden boudoirs of imperial Russia in St. Petersburg, Moscow and the Crimea
- Enjoy the commentary of an Emmy-award-winning comedy writer, your Tour Leader, Professor Barry Goldsmith
- Taste the czars’ favorite wines at Massandra winery, and savor caviar and champagne in palace restaurants
- Immerse yourself in the life-styles of the rich and Romanov with this exclusive introduction to their haunts
Map
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| Days 1-5: |
St. Petersburg |
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| Day 6: |
train to Moscow |
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| Days 7-8: |
Moscow |
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| Day 9: |
fly to Crimea, Yalta |
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| Days 10-11: |
Yalta and environs |
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| Day 12: |
fly to Kiev |
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| Day 13-14: |
Kiev |
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