Category Archives: Architecture
Martin Randall – the best tours
My trip to Russia was organised by Martin Randall Travel London (with an office in Australia too). They are, in my opinion, the leaders in cultural tours. They are well planned, engage experts who really know their stuff and who
Martin Randall – the best tours
My trip to Russia was organised by Martin Randall Travel London (with an office in Australia too). They are, in my opinion, the leaders in cultural tours. They are well planned, engage experts who really know their stuff and who
Peterhof – Peter the Great’s Palace
A stunning palace with magnificent grounds on the Bay of Finland. The fountains are all gravity fed from the nearby hills. Peter the Great certainly did have a thing for water. We came back to the city on a hydrofoil,
Peterhof – Peter the Great’s Palace
A stunning palace with magnificent grounds on the Bay of Finland. The fountains are all gravity fed from the nearby hills. Peter the Great certainly did have a thing for water. We came back to the city on a hydrofoil,
The Hermitage
We were blessed by being the first group into the palace and below shows a room with no one in it. This didn’t last long as the Summer Palace is the most desired tourist destination in Russia. The level of
The Hermitage
We were blessed by being the first group into the palace and below shows a room with no one in it. This didn’t last long as the Summer Palace is the most desired tourist destination in Russia. The level of
The last of the Romanovs
The Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul in St Petersburg is the final resting place for most of the Romanov Tzars. A little gilt on the outside but a lot on the inside. Everyone was keen to see the
The last of the Romanovs
The Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul in St Petersburg is the final resting place for most of the Romanov Tzars. A little gilt on the outside but a lot on the inside. Everyone was keen to see the
Mikhailovsky ballet
A wonderful evening at St Petersburg’s Mikhailovsky Theatre for a performance of the ballet ‘Don Quixote’. The Don be the perfect ballet role for me. No dancing, just riding in on a horse and then some prancing around with a
Mikhailovsky ballet
A wonderful evening at St Petersburg’s Mikhailovsky Theatre for a performance of the ballet ‘Don Quixote’. The Don be the perfect ballet role for me. No dancing, just riding in on a horse and then some prancing around with a
Much ado about Mariinski
The original Mariinski Theatre opened in 1860 had a long and illustrious, and is presently closed for renovation. Since 1988 both the ballet company and opera company have been under the artistic leadership of Valery Gergiev, who has implemented many
Much ado about Mariinski
The original Mariinski Theatre opened in 1860 had a long and illustrious, and is presently closed for renovation. Since 1988 both the ballet company and opera company have been under the artistic leadership of Valery Gergiev, who has implemented many
The dead centre – Novodevich
The New Maiden’s Convent (Novodevichy) was the place Tsars sent their former wife or sister either into seclusion (imprisonment) or to become a nun for the rest of their lives. Smolensk Cathedral, built in 1525, (below) is in the Convent
The dead centre – Novodevich
The New Maiden’s Convent (Novodevichy) was the place Tsars sent their former wife or sister either into seclusion (imprisonment) or to become a nun for the rest of their lives. Smolensk Cathedral, built in 1525, (below) is in the Convent
Abramtsevo – an artists’ colony
This estate was founded in the 1750s and into the ownership of Sergei Askakov, a writer, in 1853 by which time the main house had been constructed. His books about nature were attractive to many people. Many of his writings
Abramtsevo – an artists’ colony
This estate was founded in the 1750s and into the ownership of Sergei Askakov, a writer, in 1853 by which time the main house had been constructed. His books about nature were attractive to many people. Many of his writings
The Kremlin
Red Square is not red and ‘red’ has nothing to do with communists. Red means beautiful. Not that it was particularly so on the day visited as it had been the site of a concert and they were dismantling the
The Kremlin
Red Square is not red and ‘red’ has nothing to do with communists. Red means beautiful. Not that it was particularly so on the day visited as it had been the site of a concert and they were dismantling the
Tretyakov treasures
I hope I can do justice to today’s exploration of the Tretyakov Gallery of Russian art of the 11rh to early 20th century (pre-Revolution). We begin in the Church of St Nicholas, now forming part of the gallery, and which
Tretyakov treasures
I hope I can do justice to today’s exploration of the Tretyakov Gallery of Russian art of the 11rh to early 20th century (pre-Revolution). We begin in the Church of St Nicholas, now forming part of the gallery, and which
Father M 