Grandeur meets minimalism
WHERE else do you get the contrasting images of Imperialist charm and Communist minimalism standing proudly side by side, but in Russia?
With its rich past, and vast landscape, Russia continues to be one of the most impressive destinations for the avid globe trotter.
Many of Moscow’s Stalinist buildings dominate the city’s skyline and stand in sharp contrast to older but equally distinct architectural styles like St Basil’s Cathedral with its multi-coloured onion-shaped domes.
One of Moscow’s hidden gems lies in its transportation system where several hundred feet below the ground, a network of train stations preserves impressive mosaics, stained glass and sculptures that would ordinarily be found in a museum in other cities. This immediately makes one wonder what paying museums have on offer.
For many, the opulent palaces of St Petersburg are a treat. The Hermitage offers an impressive collection that put other museums to shame.
With over three million items, the former Winter Palace of the Tsars gives visitors a taste of the decadence the Russian aristocrats were accustomed to.
The Summer residences – Catherine Palace and Peterhof – are set in the idyllic country-side and mirror the splendour of French and German palaces. The gardens of Peterhof, with its gold-gilded fountains that cascade into the Baltic sea, and the Amber Room – restored in 2003 – are must-sees in St Petersburg.
Offering the best of Moscow and St Petersburg, World Discovery Travel has packaged Discover Russia – a one-week holiday designed to give you the best the cities have to offer. From RM8,788 including flights on Emirates Airlines, it is a bargain.
What’s new
The Trans-Siberian Express has been described as a journey of a lifetime.
Allowing travellers an opportunity to travel by train across the vast landscape from Moscow to Beijing, it covers major highlights along the route, including Mongolia and China.
One can observe how the urban concrete jungle of Moscow gives way to the rural towns and then the rustic scenery of the national parks of the Ural Mountains and the Gobi Desert.
Lake Baikal spanning some 600km from North to South and 40km East to West, is currently the largest fresh water lake in the world and also the deepest.
At the upcoming MATTA Fair, globetrotters can enjoy an 8% savings on the Trans-Siberian Express through World Discovery Travel.
Look out for World Discovery Travel’s advertisement in this StarSpecial.