Russian art and architecture are St Petersburg’s biggest draws, and on this 3-hour walking tour you’ll see two of its finest examples. Gaze in awe at the attention-grabbing architecture of the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood, and then head inside to marvel at its equally opulent interior. The second part of your tour includes a visit to St Petersburg’s Russian Museum, a cultural gem with more than 400,000 pieces of artwork from different genres dating back to the 10th century.
Numbers are limited to six on this small-group art tour, ensuring you’ll enjoy personalized attention from your guide.
Numbers are limited to six on this small-group art tour, ensuring you’ll enjoy personalized attention from your guide.
Highlights
- 3-hour St Petersburg walking tour of Russian art and architecture
- Learn about the assassination of Tsar Alexander II and visit the extravagant cathedral that was built to commemorate him – the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood
- Tour the Russian Museum and explore its main building, Mikhailovsky Palace, with your guide
- See vast collections of Russian art that date back to the 10th century
- Small-group tour with a maximum of six people ensure a more personalized experience
What You Can Expect
Russian Museum of Fine Art
Your friendly local guide will meet you at your central St Petersburg hotel, where your 3-hour walking tour begins. Setting off at a leisurely pace, stroll through this enrapturing city listening to tales and trivia about St Petersburg, its culture and, of course, its legendary art scene.
First stop is the eye-catching Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood – St Petersburg’s multi-domed showstopper. Modeled on St Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, the extravagant cathedral looks so ostentatious that it almost seems out of place in St Petersburg, outshining the more subtle architecture that surrounds it. After stopping for a photo, head inside with your guide to admire its similarly astounding interior.
After a period of neglect, the inside of the cathedral took longer to restore than it did to build. While walking around, your guide will point out intricate details highlighting why this was; see lines of tiny mosaics that cover the walls and its opulent marble floors. Learn about Tsar Alexander II who was assassinated on the ground that the cathedral is built on, and see the canopy that marks the spot of his death.
Head back outside and stroll over to St Petersburg’s next cultural gem -- the Russian Museum -- for a guided tour. Dedicated to Russian art, the museum houses a spellbinding collection with more than 400,000 pieces of art that date from the 10th century to the present day. The main building is known as Mikhailovsky Palace and as you walk through it with your guide, see art from just about every genre, including paintings, sculptures and graphics, as well as some of the world’s finest Russian avant-garde creations.
Your tour ends in the Russian Museum, where you can continue exploring independently if you wish.
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