St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University, Russia: Cultural Activities
Studying in Russia provides unique opportunities. St. Petersburg Summer Advantage includes activities that help you put Russia’s storied past into context, from an in-depth look at Moscow on a weekend visit, to tours of St. Petersburg’s impressive museums. In addition, a pre-program stopover in London gives you the chance to check out one of Europe’s most exciting capitals!
Depending on the interests of the students on campus, a variety of additional cultural activities are arranged throughout the course of your stay, such as walking tours, concerts, or a visit to the circus.
3-day London stopover
Depart from the United States and arrive in London, one of the world’s most exciting capitals. Meet your Summer Advantage representative and transfer to your accommodation. At the welcome dinner you will get the chance to meet your fellow students. The next morning, a local guide will show you the splendors of London on a guided tour. See Trafalgar Square, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London. On day three, say farewell to London and depart for St. Petersburg.
Accommodations, airport transfers, breakfasts, dinners, the sightseeing tour and entrance fees are all included in your program fee.
Weekend in Moscow
Join AIFS staff on an exciting journey to the heart of Russia: Moscow, the country’s capital and largest city. In Moscow, embark on a guided sightseeing tour of the city and the State Tretyakov Gallery. See Lenin’s Tomb, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and GUM, the famous department store in Red Square. The next day is spent exploring the Kremlin and Red Square. Students also visit an evening performance at the circus or theater depending on availability. Return to St. Petersburg by train.
Accommodations, transportation, guided sightseeing tours and services of a professional guide are included in the program fee.
Guided Sightseeing Tour of St. Petersburg
Explore one of the most beautiful cities in the world! A guided sightseeing tour includes the Aurora battleship, whose guns signaled the beginning of the revolution in 1917, as well as St. Isaac’s Cathedral. See the equestrian statue of Peter the Great, St. Basil’s Island and the Piskarovskoe Cemetery.
Hermitage Visit
Visit Palace Square where you’ll enter one of the finest museums on the planet, the Hermitage, which includes the Winter Palace, formerly the center of government under the tsars. In the halls you’ll find a collection of art rivaled only by the Louvre or the Uffizi.
State Russian Museum Visit
The State Russian Museum is the world’s largest museum of Russian art. The collection of the Russian Museum numbers some 400,000 works and covers the entire history of Russian fine art from the tenth century to the present day. It reflects virtually every form and genre of art in Russia, including a unique collection of Old Russian icons, painting, graphic art and sculpture, decorative and applied art, folk art and numismatics, as well as the world’s finest collection of Russian avant-garde.
Peterhof Palace
Also known as Petrodvorets, Peterhof Palace is the huge country estate of Peter the Great, built to resemble Versailles. See its amazing fountains and gardens, and soak up Russian history by wandering through the halls of the museum.
The Catherine Palace
Visit the park and palace of Tsarskoye Selo, an exquisite monument of Russian art and culture with a worldwide reputation. Once the summer residence of Russian Tsars, it enjoyed the attention of the country’s most famous architects, painters and craftsmen of the time. Its splendor equals the most magnificent and richest residences of Europe.
Novgorod Day Trip
Journey to the ancient capital of the Kievan Russian state. The history of the town is closely linked with all major stages in Russian history. The republic’s special political structure, spiritual freedom and territorial independence made it an ideal place to create culture and art. Novgorod was one of Russia’s major centers of literacy and book production. See the architectural traditions, icon painting, jewelers and decorative applied arts that made it famous all over the world.
