Indiana University Alumni Present:
Imperial Splendors of St. Petersburg

Join alumni of Indiana University as we set out to experience Peter the Great's enduring vision: Central St. Petersburg is a graceful composite of elegant 18th century buildings intersected by canals and waterways. This in-depth exploration of Peter's beautiful city includes extras like an exclusive reception and meeting with the Vice Director of Catherine's Palace, a visit to the workshop where modern masters labored to reconstruct the interior of the luminous Amber Room and a hydrofoil ride over the Gulf of Finland to Peter's sumptuous summer palace, Peterhof.

Day by Day Itinerary

Friday, October 22-Saturday, October 23 Depart USA
Arrive St. Petersburg

Upon arrival, transfer to the centrally located hotel, with some time to rest before gathering for a welcome dinner. Helvetia Hotel or similar. (In flight, D)

Sunday, October 24
St. Petersburg

Depart for an introductory tour of St. Petersburg, often described as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Its miles of canals, laced together with graceful bridges set amidst 18th century buildings, have earned it the name, "Venice of the North." Visit the Peter and Paul Fortress, one of the first structures in St. Petersburg and the burial place for most of the czars, beginning with Peter the Great. Explore St. Isaac's Cathedral, bursting with sculptures, frescoes, stained glass works and woodcarvings. Pay a visit to the Monument to the Defenders of Leningrad, dedicated to the memory of the 900-day siege during WWII. (B, L, D)

Monday, October 25
St. Petersburg

Board a boat at one of St. Petersburg's famous bridges for a cruise of the city's canals, the waterways that originally drained the swamps of Peter the Great's capital. Pay a special visit to the private studio of a renowned local artist for tea.

Take an exclusive private tour of the Usupoff Palace, tucked away in the heart of St. Petersburg, where the plot against the sinister Rasputin came to fruition. (B, L, D)

Tuesday, October 26
St. Petersburg

Visit the gorgeous multi-hued Church of the Savior on the Blood, built on the spot where Czar Alexander II was killed by a bomb in 1881. Next is the Hermitage, one of the world's finest museums. The fabulous rooms with their inlaid floors and gilded woodwork and the grand double entry staircase are works of art in themselves. Spend a romantic evening at one of St. Petersburg's illustrious theaters. (B)

Wednesday, October 27
St. Petersburg / day trip to Pushkin/Pavlovsk

Drive out into the countryside to Pushkin to visit Catherine's Palace, beginning with an exclusive reception with its Vice Director. Admire the fully restored Amber Room, which has been years in the making. The beautifully crafted amber panels were re-created from photos and descriptions of the originals. As a special feature, take a unique look behind the scenes in the Amber Storage Rooms (not to be confused with the workshops where others can go on a regular tour). Stop for lunch at Podvorye Restaurant, built in the style of a traditional Russian izba, or wooden cottage. Enjoy wonderful Russian peasant-style cuisine, served family style at long wooden tables. Continue to nearby Pavlovsk Palace, given to Czar Paul I and his wife by Catherine the Great, and set in a lovely park.(B, L)

Thursday, October 28
St. Petersburg / Peterhof Palace

Take a hydrofoil from the Hermitage pier down the Neva and out into the Gulf of Finland to Peterhof, Peter's summer palace. The former imperial residence is surrounded with extensive parks and gardens intended to rival Versailles, complete with an array of gilded statues, magnificent palaces and gravity-fed fountains. Explore the massive Grand Palace with its parquet floors, lavish apartments and grand galleries. Gather for a festive farewell dinner. (B, L, D)

Friday, October 29
Depart St. Petersburg

This morning, after some free time for last minute shopping, transfer to the airport for the flight home. (B)

Optional Post-Tour to Moscow

Friday, October 29
St. Petersburg / fly to Moscow

Transfer to the airport for the short flight to Moscow and depart on an introductory city tour. Founded in 1147 by Yuri Dolgoruky (literally "Yuri of the Long Arms"), Moscow rose to prominence during Mongol domination and eventually became the Russian capital. Eclipsed for 200 years by St. Petersburg, Moscow was restored as the Russian political center after the October Revolution in 1917, and celebrated its 850th anniversary in 1997. Marriott Tverskaya Hotel or similar. (B, L aloft, D)

Saturday, October 30
Moscow

Today's tour focuses on UNESCO-listed Red Square and the Kremlin, with its Armory Museum. Built in the 16th century as a warehouse for the Kremlin's weaponry, the Armory Museum now houses Russia's national treasures such as religious icons, Faberge eggs and Catherine the Great's ball gowns and shoes. Visit the Tretyakov Gallery, where the history and trajectory of Russian art are displayed. (B, L)

Sunday, October 31
Moscow

Take a tour of Moscow's Metro; the stations in the city center are showpieces of Socialist art, furnished with statues, frescoes and mosaics. Continue to Izmailovo Park, the best place in Moscow to find deals on an eclectic variety of Russian souvenirs and crafts, from matrioshka dolls to lacquered boxes, and Soviet memorabilia to watercolors. Next, descend further underground for a tour of the Cold War Museum. Over 200 feet below Moscow is the Secured Command Post "Tagansky," an abandoned relic of the Cold War built to withstand a nuclear attack. (B, D)

Monday, November 1
Depart Moscow

The tour concludes with transfers to the airport. (B)

Trip Details

Main Land Tour: October 22-29, 2010 Land Tour Cost: $2,995 Single Supplement $595 Optional Post-Tour to Moscow October 29-November 1, 2010 Post-Tour Cost: $1,495 Single Supplement $295

MIR Signature Features

• Enjoy an exclusive private tour of the Usupoff Palace, where the plot to kill Rasputin came to fruition
• Spend a romantic evening at one of St. Petersburg's illustrious theaters
• Experience traditional Russian peasant-style cuisine, served family-style at long wooden tables
• Pay a tea-time visit to the private studio of a renowned St. Petersburg artist

Map - Click to Enlarge

Day Activity   Days 1-8: St. Petersburg - the city and its environs