Many-sided cities of Southern Russia

 Arrival to the airport . Transfer to the hotel

After breakfast a tour of the city central area will take us through a city alive and vibrant, rising into the hills along the banks of the river Don. During its 265 years of existence Rostov has grown from a small trading-post into the administrative center of Southern Russia. Its magnificent old 19th century mansions, brick houses, block apartments, and 21st century tower office buildings are the testaments to continuing progress and a future of a continuing, growing economy.

This tour will include the romantic street, Puskinskaya, Gorky Park and Bolshaya Sadovaya Street, the main East-west avenue. We will visit the old open market and the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Birth.We will walk along the Quay, passing some of the oldest parts of the early city.

Lunch at local cafe.

Free time.

After breakfast excursion to Taganrog (67 km away from Rostov).

Taganrog is a quiet, cosy town, founded by the tsar Peter the Great and famous all over the world as the motherland of the beloved and admired writer, Anton Chekhov. Taganrog is also the town where great composer Peter Tsjaikovski lived.

Beautiful streets, quaint cottages as well as 19th century homes of prospering merchants of the time still stand. Many museums will bring to light a period of gracefulness and charm in Russian history. We will visit two of them: The Historical Museum of Taganrog placed in the most beautiful building of the town “Alferaky's Palace” and The museum “Tchekhov House”.

Lunch at the local restaurant.

Afternoon time for strolling around the Pushkinskaya Quay.

On the way back to Rostov, we will visit the Open Archaeological Museum Reserve Tanais. From the 3rd century B.C. till the 4th century A.D. it was a big trade center of Bospor Greeks.

Return to Rostov.

After breakfast start of an excursion to the stanitsa Starocherkasskaya, an old typical Cossack village, once called “the Venice of the Don,” built on an island in the Don River, is the place of the old Don Cossack Host (army) and served as the center of the Don Cossack homeland from the late 16th century into the very early 19th century. Today the small village, a UNESCO recognized historic location, holds the heart and soul of the Don Cossack people, their history, and culture.

After lunch excursion to Novocherkassk, the recognized and traditional international capital of Cossack people the world over. From 1805 to present, this has become a significant cultural center for the entire region of Rostov.

Return to Rostov in the evening.

After breakfast excursion to Azov, a former fortress of Osman Empire. The town of Azov is rich withmuseums monuments and buildings that will carry the visitor on a path from the time of the prehistoric and ice age world of human life to the historic times of the great Cossack defense and on through the 20th century.

After lunch we go back to Rostov.

Transfer to the train-station and departure to Volgograd by night train at 9.53 p.m.

Arrival to Volgograd at 11.00 a.m.

Transfer to the hotel , accommodation, free time.

After lunch city-tour in Volgograd.

Volgograd, known as Stalingrad during the Soviet period, was completely destroyed during heavy fighting from August 1942 to February 1943. It became the turning point for victory in Europe and defeat for Nazi and Fascist forces.

The memories are now preserved in the many monuments devoted to those who lived, died and survived this fierce battle. Among them are the Avenue of Heroes, the Area of the Dead Fighters, the Central Quay-the docks, the Pavlov house as a Bastion of Soldier’s Glory, and the Panorama Museum-«Stalingradsky Battle».

As a highlight of the visit we will ascend this memorial height to Russian Glory — Mamayev Kurgan, where the majestic statue, «The Motherland applies to us» now stands.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport.