Novgorod The Great

Private tour in St. Petersburg

Full-day tour to Novgorod The Great is the unique opportunity to see ancient Russian city, which is almost 1100 years old now. In the old times it was called “His Majesty the Great Novgorod” and “Father of the Russian Towns”. The town gave birth to a unique kind of democracy – the Novgorod “Vetche” Republic which existed for about 400 years. It is situated in the North-West of Russia, on the bank of the Volkhov river close to the Ilmen lake. It has a population of 255,000 and is 200 km away from St. Petersburg. During the tour you will see all important sights of the city: • the Kremlin (true heart of any ancient Russian city) with St. Sophia's Cathedral (the only one survived Russian stone church of XI century) and the Monument to the Millennium of Russia. Novgorod kremlin, traditionally known as Detinets, also contains the oldest palace in Russia (the so-called Chamber of the Facets, 1433), the oldest Russian bell tower (mid-15th cent.), and the oldest Russian clock tower (1673) • Yaroslav's Courtyard with its unique “bush” of churches designed in 12-16 centuries. In the southern district there was a prince's court, also known as the Yaroslav's Courtyard, from the name of Yaroslav the Wise who reigned Novgorod for a number of years in the early 11th century before his accession to the Kiev throne. • The open-air architectural-ethnographic museum "Vitoslavlitsy", which provides a whole complex of genuine folk wooden architecture, including ancient churches of the 16th — 18th centuries, peasant houses of the 19th — early 20th centuries, exhibitions of folk art and everyday life items of Novgorod peasants of the same period • Yuriev Monastery with St. George's Cathedral. The St George Cathedral is perceived as a triumph of artistry over stone. This is the key feature that unites all Novgorodian architecture of the 11th to 15th century. Tour takes 12 hours. Lunch in one of the Russian-style restaurants of Novgorod can be arranged.

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