Treasures of Moscow

After Ivan III ‘The Great’ defeated the Mongols and married the niece of the Byzantine emperor, Moscow’s character and
pre-eminence was defined by Ivan’s reshaping of Moscow and the Kremlin. His grandson, Ivan ‘The Terrible’ who assumed the title ‘Tsar of All Russia’, established the Russian Empire. Moscow was capital of Russia until 1712 when Peter the Great moved the capital to St. Petersburg.

In the 18th century the influence of Italian and French architects, which inspired St. Petersburg, spread to Moscow. St. Petersburg is considered by many to be the home of Russian treasures, but we are pleased to present a programme exploring the equally impressive
‘Treasures of Moscow’, utilising centrally located hotels that allow the opportunity to explore independently. At its very heart sits the Kremlin and a visit to the Armoury explores the treasures of the tsars, including carriages, crown jewels, Fabergé eggs and ceremonial weapons and arms.

The vast expanse of Red Square, measuring 500 metres in length, is flanked by the striking St. Basil’s Cathedral and GUM department store. Housing the largest and finest collection of Russian art in the world, the Tretyakov Gallery possesses a unique display, from icons to art nouveau, whilst the
Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts exhibits an excellent collection of French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings.