MOSCOW TO ST PETERSBURG

Moscow, the former mediaeval citadel and capital of Communism: gold onion-domed churches scrape the skyline alongside Stalin's gothic Seven Sisters. The Kremlin, Lenin's Mausoleum and St Basil's surround historic Red Square. Moscow's metro is a work of art, with bronze statues of model citizens lit by ornate chandeliers. Stroll amongst the craft stalls on Arbat Street or buy Prada in the former Soviet department store GUM. On to St Petersburg, where the Hermitage, Peter and Paul Fortress and the River Neva combine to evoke a past of unparalleled glory. The fortress, museums, palaces and parks provide an abundance of historic and cultural sites to visit. Built on canals, the city buzzes through warm summer evenings with live music, nightclubs that close at dawn and ornate baroque theatres performing world class ballet and opera. Equally winter is a magical time to visit as the abundance of snow creates a fairytale scene and it is the best time to visit the theatre, opera or ballet as Russia's famous companies return from summer touring.