Gismeteo
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The third city in the Novgorod region, with population of 58.ooo people. Staraya Russa-one of the most ancient Russian cities, founded in 1167 along the great trade route “from the Varangians to the Greeks”. Annual archaeological excavations are held here, which bring to light a lot of materials no less interesting that in Veliky Novgorod. In the south-east of the city the pearl of the country -Resort "Staraya Russa”,"is located. Almost 170 years the resort makes people healthier.The excursion includes a guided tour round the city, visit to The Resort “Staraya Russa”, excursion to the History Museum, and excursion to the F.M.Dostoevsky House and Museum. The exposition tells visitors about the life of Fyodor Dostoyevsky and his family in Staraya Russa. Here Dostoyevsky wrote chapters from his novels "The Adolescent", "The Possessed" and "The Karamazov Brothers". For the admirers of his works, an excursion “The scenes of “Brothers Karamazov”” is offered, which includes an excursion round Staraya Russa, a peculiar stage that had witnessed the main scenes described in Dostoyevsky’s works.
The city of Valday is located in a picturesque place among lakes and hills covered with light forests. The clean air, healthy water and mild climate make it one of the most attractive resort zones in Russia. The Museum of Bells- presents a unique collection and materials about the history of bells. The collection features rare samples of bells such as a bell, cast by Russian masters T. Andreev and P. Grigoriev in 1536, German and Swedish trophy bells of the 17th century, Valday driver’s bells of the 19th century, samples of 20th century bells used in churches, railroads, vessels, as well as tiny cow bells and door bells. The museum’s peculiarity is the following: many of the exhibits can be not only seen but heard as well. Three belfries have been installed in the museum’s hall. These belfries make it possible to hold spontaneous concerts, as any of the visitors can try the sounds of the bells he liked best. The District Town Museum- consists of five halls, where ancient materials about the history of Iversky Monastery and town-planning in Valday in XVIII century, about useful arts, state and public institutions of the city are exhibit. The Iversky Monastery is located on the beautiful Selevetsky Island of the Valday Lake. It was founded by patriarch Nickon and takes a special place in the history of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is the unique architectural monument, the centre of the tile production, and wood and stone carving craft.
Pskov is situated on the border with Estonia. During the centuries the city was an out post, which protected not only Novgorod from western neighbors, but all other lands. That’s why there were many fortresses made of stone. The excursion includes: the Kremlin with St.Trinity Cathedral, Pskov church architecture, Pskov civil and defense architecture: The Pokrovsky complex (XVI century), Pogankin Chambers. Pogankin Chambers (1671-1679) - famous chambers were the part of the yard of the rich merchant Sergei Ivanovich Pogankin and were the biggest building of Pskov in XVII century. In 1900 the building was handed over to the archaeological society. After the reconstruction it was transformed into the Museum of History and Fine Arts.
This place attracts each Russian citizen. The greatest Russian poet of the 19th century Alexander Pushkin is buried by the walls of the Holy Hills Monastery, that’s why this museum became a sacred place. The excursion includes visits to the wonderful estates of Trigorskoye, Mikhailovskoye, the poet’s grave and the necropolis of the Hannibal-Pushkin’s in the Holy Hills Monastery, which was built in XIV-XVI centuries. Mikhailovskoye is considered to be the poetic homeland of Pushkin. But Mikhailovkoye is not simply a place, where the poet have been living for some period of time and where he was buried-it is a huge institute of the reconstruction of the epoch, the poet lived in. Nowadays, the museum’s exposition possesses lots of books, paintings, applied art, icon collection, and numismatics collection, archeology and household utensils of Pushkin’s time.
Izborsk-is one of the oldest Russian cities, located 32 km west of Pskov. Is famous for its well-preserved fortress, presenting a wonderful monument of the Pskov defense architecture (1303-1330). Within the fortress the cathedral of St. Nicolas, the date of it’s building is unknown, The Church of St. Sergius (1797), The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God (end of XVII century) with a nice belfry, The Cathedral of St. Nicholas (XVII century), built on the spring of the holy water.
The main attraction of this small district centre is Pskov’s Monastery of the Caves. The monastery was founded in 1473, when Ioan the priest founded the first cave church. The Monastery was famous for its caves, amazing ensemble and wonder-working icon of the Assumption of the Mother of God (XVI century, The Pskov iconography school). Besides the visit to the monastery, the excursion includes the visit to the fortress of the XVI century, which protected the monastery in middle ages, the sightseeing of churches (St. Michael cathedral of XIX century, The Church of St Nicholas of XVI century, the Church of the Purification of XVI century, the Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin of XVI century, The Assumption cathedral of XIV century.