The Kremlin is truly a collection of fascinating structures. It is an ancient tower, the city's former military fortification, a palace, an armory, the sovereign treasury, and the workplace of the Russian President. Red Square is within the Kremlin's walls. Among the sights included in the tour are the Mausoleum of Lenin, the History Museum, the beautiful Church of St Basil the Blessed, Kazansky Cathedral and many other outstanding pieces of Russian architecture. The Armory presents ancient Russian regalia, examples of the ceremonial dress of the Tsars, church hierarchs vestments, gold and silverware by Russian, European and Eastern masters, arms and armor, royal carriages and horse ceremonial harnesses. The final stop is the fabulous Diamond Fund. It originally contained the treasury of Russia and the crowned jewels of the Russian Tsars and is filled with diamonds, gold, and Faberge Eggs, among other treasures.
Lunch

Tour of the Tretiakov State Gallery. This world famous gallery contains works of Russian art at the beginning of the 10th century through today. You will view exquisite Russian icons and paintings from the 18th and 19th century including works by the most beloved of Russian painters to include Rublyov, Karavak, Vishnyakov, Nikitin, Antropov, Levitsky, Kiprensky, Tropinin, Fedotov, Repin and many others. This museum provides more of the famous Russian Itinerant painters than any in the world.
Dinner

One of the finest architectural constructions of the XIX century, the former principal cathedral of the Russian capital has a capacity to accommodate 14,000 people. The cathedral is graced with 112 solid granite columns, 400 relief's and bronze sculptures and wonderful mosaics. The observation platform on the colonnade provides a magnificent view of the city. There are nearly 300 steps to the top but the view is more than worth the climb.

At 8.00 AM, our driver will pick you up to depart for Novgorod. Novgorod is one of Russia's most ancient cities. It is about 3 hours drive from St .Petersburg and will give you an opportunity to see the Russian countryside. Your guide will be a professor of Ancient Russian Art, Dr. Valery Shilov from the Academy of Arts. Your first impression of the oldest walled city in Russia will be the Kremlin. It was first built as early as in 864. Within those historic walls is the cathedral of St. Sophia, the oldest and the holiest church in Russia.
You will eat lunch at an 800-year old church converted into the restaurant "Detinets". The menu consists of old Russian dishes popular in ancient Novgorod.
(Dr. Donnelly and his colleague Dr. Shilov like to drink mead.) Yes it is the same mead you used to read about in books about knights of old. In the afternoon, you will travel by bus to the open-air museum of wooden architecture "Vitoslavisty. The museum consists of old wooden houses, huts, and churches brought from all over the Novgorod region.
Shopping is extremely reasonable in Novgorod in October and your guide will help keep the prices down as low as possible.
Dinner

This is an extremely interesting palace tour. The building is notable both for its beauty and for the historical events that have taken place within its walls. During our visit you will admire the elaborate ceremonial rooms, a unique home theater and the cozy basement drawing-rooms, associated with the assassination of Gregory Rasputin. The gift shop is expensive but Dr. Donnelly can negotiate a discount for you if you find a treasure you must have.
Lunch that day will take place at the elegant restaurant of the Yusupov Palace favoring the dishes served at the table of the illustrious Yusupov family. The restaurant is currently under restoration and we are anxious to see what the updated version will look like.