Moscow
It may be the capital of the earth's biggest country, but it's
not its biggest city. At times it looks like an administrative megalopolis
from Alphaville, with monumental slabs of buildings and wide, grey roads.
However, it's off these grey thoroughfares that the pre-Stalinised Moscow
survives, with golden onion domes peeping through the narrow, winding
inner-city streets and the glowing windows that hint at the secret interiors
of a million apartment blocks. The most famous attractions include the
Kremlin and Red Square.
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Hotels in Moscow >> |
Cosmos
Hotel Moscow    
Situated in the northern suburbs of Moscow in one of the most beautiful
and ecologically safe areas, the Cosmos Hotel offers the best accommodation
with fully equipped modern facilities. The hotel provided different types of
restaurants offering Russian and European cuisines. The terrace bar serves a
wide variety of wines and cocktails with live music. |
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» Moscow Sightseeing Tours Events &
Attractions |
St Petersburg
Russia's most European city has been dubbed the Venice of the North for
its palace-lined waterways. Peter the Great's beautiful creation managed to
escape the architectural incursions of Stalinism and its grandiose relics of
tsarist days are virtually intact. Lying on the Gulf of Finland, and
sculpted by islands and the sinuous Neva River, the city is a geometric
vista of orderly elegance, with nary an onion dome in sight. Attractions
include the State Hermitage Museum, Peter & Paul Fortress and the Nevsky
prospekt.
Novgorod
Settled in the 9th century and for 600 years Russia's pioneering artistic
and political centre, Novgorod lies at the heart of Russia's history. Lying
just 190km south of St Petersburg, the city was annexed by Ivan III, razed
by Ivan the Terrible and methodically trashed by the Nazis, but there's
still a lot left to see. Its Kremlin includes the Byzantine Cathedral of St
Sophia, the Millennium of Russia Monument, the icon-filled Chamber of Facets
and the research-based Museum of History & Art. Across from the Kremlin,
Yaroslav's Court includes medieval markets, churches, arcades and palace
remains. The Church of Our Saviour-at-Ilino is arguably one of Russia's most
charming, with playful ornamentation and gables, and an interior boasting
Byzantine frescoes.
A jaunt on the Trans-Siberian Railway is the way to see this massive
country. The six-day, 9446km journey takes you from Moscow to Vladivostok on
the Pacific coast, passing through endless forests of birch and pine,
log-cabin settlements and vast steppes. Life on the rails can be boring or
fascinating, depending on the nature of your travelling companions, your
choice of paperback novels and the friendliness of your carriage attendant
(a vital factor). The route takes you past Siberia's Lake Baikal, a waterway
as big as Belgium and home to the world's only freshwater seal, and
multicultural Irkutsk, the most appealing city you'll pass along the line.
Ulan Ude is home to the country's seat of Buddhism, the Ivolginsk Datsan.
Those who get into the rhythm of the stops and starts, and the passing
parade of trees and far-flung towns, will find it an experience never to be
forgotten. more...
The Volga
The main artery of the Russian heartland has always been the 3700km-long
River Volga (Europe's longest), which slowly meanders from Yaroslavl, north
of Moscow, all the way down to Volgograd, from where a tributary runs off to
the Caspian Sea. The Volga-Don Ship Canal links it with the River Don, bound
for the Azov Sea. Cruisers and steamships ply the Volga's waters, the most
interesting section is between Volgograd and Rostov-on-Don. Towns en-route
include Kazan, one of the oldest Tatar cities in Russia, which features a
limestone kremlin and several mosques; and Lenin's birthplace, Ulyanovsk,
replete with attendant memorabilia. Volgograd, previously known as
Stalingrad, is best known for the decisive and protracted battle fought here
during WWII. The city has since been built from scratch, and appropriately
grim museums and monuments proliferate.
Sochi
With the Caucasus mountains as its backdrop, the Black Sea resort of
Sochi is Russia's Odessa and Yalta. With its subtropical climate, warm seas
and adjoining trendy resort complex of Dagomys, the resort has long
attracted heads of state, foreign tourists and Russians alike. Gardens are a
feature of the town, as are therapeutic establishments and the dachas
(country houses) of the powerful and famous. Heading inland, there are
waterfalls, hilltop views, spa towns and alpine vistas to enjoy.
Sochi is called the Capital of Russian Health Resorts. It's situated in the
southern part of Russia and it spreads along the 150 km strip between the
Main Caucasus Mountain Range and the Black Sea coastline. The city is on the
same latitude with Gobi desert, Toronto, Nice. However, due to the proximity
of the Big Caucasian ridge and the warm Black Sea, the climate here is
subtropical. These are the most northern subtropics in the world.
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