М. Битюкова
English for tourism and cultural science

Unit 1. Russia. Moscow

Historical Review

Moscow is first mentioned in chronicle under the year 1147 as a possession of Prince Yuri Dolgoruky, and this date has been taken as the year of its founding. Archaeological excavations in the centre of Moscow, however, prove that a small settlement already existed on this site as early as the 11th century.

Moscow’s position in the heart of the Russian lands and at the intersection of trade routes promoted its rapid growth. In the late 15th century the city emerged as the capital of the Russian state. The most well-known Moscow princes and kings such as grand prince Andrew Bogolubsky, Ivan Kalita, Ivan the Red, Dmitry Donskoy, Ivan the Terrible, Boris Godunov, Mikhail Feodorovich and others were the continuators of Moscow state formation.

Moscow remained Russia’s largest city even after the capital had been moved to St. Petersburg in the early 18th century.

Moscow occupied an outstanding place in the revolutionary movement. The barricades of the Krasnaya Presnya district epitomized the courage of the workers who rose in arms against tsarism during 1905-1907.

After the Great October Socialistic Revolution of 1917, Moscow was again made the capital, this time of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and the Soviet Union less than five years later.

During the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) the defenders of Moscow won unfading glory for themselves and the city. The great Battle of Moscow (1941-1942) resulted in the first major defeat of Hitler’s armies in World War II, inflicting on them a loss of over 400,000 men and vast amounts of combat equipment. Twenty years after the end of the war Moscow (and other twelve Soviet cities) was awarded the title of the Hero City.

The postwar period saw Moscow continuing its development as the leading political, economic, scientific and cultural centre of the country. Today it is one of the largest cities in the world (area – 2,511 sq.km.; population in 2020 – 12.4 mln. within the city limits, and over 20 mln. residents in the Moscow Metropolitan Area). It constitutes:

– a sweeping panorama of new housing projects;

– widened and straightened streets in the centre and broad new thoroughfares;

– spacious and attractive buildings of institutes and enterprises, theatres and libraries;

– sparkling window displays in shops, cafés and restaurants;

– magnificent sports stadiums and beautiful parks and gardens;

– soaring bridges across waterways;

– the marble-faced stations of the Metro.

The city symbolizes the unity of 130 large and small nations and nationalities inhabiting the Russian Federation. It is a treasure-trove of the Russian people’s culture and art; and a major tourist centre of the country.

Here the most precious historical memorials are gathered: the Moscow Kremlin, Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Novodevichy Convent, Fili Church, Moscow State University, Triumph Arch, Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill. Revival Gates of the Kremlin with Iver God’s Mother Chapel, Kazan God’s Mother Icon Cathedral, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior have been restored and this process is going on.

Excursions

General Sightseeing Tour of Moscow (by bus, with a guide/interpreter; duration – about 3 hours). The route of this tour passes through the city’s historical centre as well as new residential areas and parks. You will be able to have a close look at the architectural features of Red Square and see the Bolshoi Theatre, meanwhile your guide will tell you about the capital’s cultural life. The bus will take you along Tverskaya street to Sadovoye Koltso (Garden Ring) and then to Novy Arbat and Kutuzov Avenue; then you will pass by the old walls of the Novodevichy Convent and move in the direction of Vorobyovy Gory (Sparrow Hills) from where you will be thrilled by a splendid panorama of Moscow. Your final stop will be at the building of Moscow State University in Vorobyovy Gory.

Moscow – a City of Sport (by bus, with a guide/interpreter; duration – 3 hours). During this excursion you will learn about the development of sports in Russia and will see palaces of sports, stadiums, major sports complexes, the Olympic Village and Luzhniki Stadium, where the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1980 Olympic Games were held, where Moscow hosted the UEFA Cup 1998-99, UEFA Champions League 2007-08 finals and the 2018 FIFA World Cup with 7 games total, including the final. You will also learn about seven horse racing tracks in Moscow, and see the largest of them – Central Moscow Hippodrome, founded in 1834.

Moscow’s Architecture (by bus, with a guide/interpreter; duration – 2.5 hours). This excursion will give you an opportunity to see some unique monuments of old Russian and modern architecture in the city. You will get acquainted with the famous Shukhov Tower which was designed by the architect Vladimir Shukhov and built between 1919 and 1922 as a transmission tower for a Russian broadcasting company; the Ostankino Tower which, when it was completed in 1967, was the tallest free-standing land structure in the world and today remains the world’s second-tallest after the CN Tower in Toronto.

Moscow and Literary Culture (by bus, with a guide/interpreter; duration – 2.5 hours). This is a tour of memorable places linked with the lives and work of outstanding Russian writers, as well as with the history of Russian literature. You will visit Moscow State Museum of Sergey Esenin, the State Museum of Vladimir Mayakovsky, the State Cultural Centre and Museum of Vladimir Vysotsky.

A Boat Trip on the Moskva River (duration – 1 hour 10 minutes). It begins at the pier near the Kiev Railway Station (Kievskaya Metro Station). Excursion boats start from the pier every thirty minutes. You will have a wonderful opportunity to see the embankment and bridges of the Moskva River and some of the city’s architectural sights.

If you are free in the evening and would like to get to know Moscow better, you can go to a “Moscow in the Evening” Tour (by bus, with a guide/interpreter; duration – 3 hours). You will see old streets and squares of Moscow, St. Basil’s Cathedral, the Moscow Kremlin, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Novodevichy Convent (without visiting it), the panorama of the city from Vorobyovy Gory and Poklonnaya Gora (from the bus).

The Moscow Kremlin (on foot, duration – 2 hours). The cathedrals and palaces of the Kremlin contain treasures of old art; its age-old walls have witnessed major events of Russian history. This excursion begins at Cathedral Square (Sobornaya Square) with its late 15th – and early 16th century buildings: the Annunciation, Assumption and Archangel Cathedrals, the Faceted Palace, the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great, and the Church of the Deposition of the Robe.

Organically integrated in the old architectural ensemble of the Kremlin is the Palace of Congresses, erected in 1961, where congresses of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and other important meetings were held. In 1992 it was renamed. Now it is known as the State Kremlin Palace and is used as a theatre and for public purposes.

This excursion includes a tour of the Kremlin grounds, a visit to one of the cathedrals and a close-up view of two remarkable specimen of Russian foundry work of the 16th – 18th centuries – the Tsar-Cannon and the Tsar-Bell.

You may also visit interesting museums of the Moscow Kremlin – the Church of the Deposition of the Robe and the Patriarch’s Palace.

Around Moscow Zaryadye (on foot; duration – 2 hours). One of the oldest districts of Moscow, Zaryadye (more than 13 hectares in area) boasts a whole collection of architectural monuments of the 16th – 19th centuries such as the Old English Embassy, Church of All Saints, Roman boyar residence and some others. Together they comprise a unique open-air museum of old Russian architecture.

Around Red Square (on foot; duration – 1.5 hours). Facing the Kremlin wall, Red Square is an inseparable component of the architectural ensemble of the Kremlin. Its history dates back to the 15th century.

Here foreign tourists can visit the Lenin Mausoleum.

In the southern part of Red Square stands the exquisitely decorated Cathedral of the Intercession (better known as St. Basil’s Cathedral), a unique monument of the 16th century; facing it across the Square from the north is the History Museum, built over a hundred years ago. Opposite the Kremlin and forming the eastern boundary of Red Square is the country’s largest State Department Store – the Upper Trade Rows, known as GUM.

The only sculptured monument on the square is a bronze statue of Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky, who helped to clear Moscow from the Polish invaders in 1612, during the Time of Troubles.

A Tour of the Moscow Metro (duration – 1.5 hours) will acquaint you with one of the world’s most beautiful and convenient underground transportation networks. Many stations of the Moscow Metro are decorated with mosaic, sculptures and stained-glass panels. Some of them are an outstanding example of socialist realist art.

Museums (in the city)

Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts. The stocks of this Museum contain fabulous collections of Babylonian and Egyptian art, of classical Greek and Roman art, and of 18th-20th century Western European paintings, works by Claude Monet, Paul Cezanne and Pablo Picasso. This museum is similar to the British Museum in London in that its halls are a cross-section of world civilizations with many plaster casts of ancient sculptures.

Open: daily from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm, entrance till 5.30 pm; Thursday from 1.00 pm to 9 pm, entrance till 8.30 pm.

Closed: Monday.

Tretyakov Art Gallery. A depository of works of Russian national art from the 11th century to the present. The Gallery’s collection includes 40,000 canvases, drawings and sculptures by Russian and Soviet artists. The Gallery was founded by Pavel Tretyakov (1832-1898), an eminent figure in Russian cultural life.

Open: Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm; Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 10.00 am to 9.00 pm.

Closed: Monday.

Donskoy Monastery is a remarkable example of 16th-19th century architecture, and a historical monument. You can see some fine specimens of Russian memorial sculpture and works of Russian icon-painters in the Monastery.

Andrei Rublev Museum of Early Russian Art. It has on display the rarest works of early Russian painting – icons of the 15th-17th centuries, including masterpieces by Andrei Rublev and Dionisius.

Open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 2.00 pm to 9 pm; Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 11.00 am to 6.00 pm.

Closed: Wednesday.

State Museum of Oriental Art. On display there are outstanding works of art created by the peoples of the East of the former Soviet Union and Oriental countries. Among the exhibits are one of the world’s finest collections of Japanese miniature sculptures, Iranian rugs and Turkish brocade.

Open: Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 11.00 am to 8.00 pm; Wednesday, Thursday from 12.00 pm to 9.00 pm.

Closed: Monday.

Kolomenskoye Estate-Museum. Kolomenskoye is the site of one of the first tent-shaped stone churches built in Russia, the famous Church of the Ascension of Christ (16th century). Other exhibits include genuine early Russian wooden structures and precious collections of Russian tiles and 17th-century icons.

Open: daily from 9.00 am to 9.00 pm.

Tsaritsyno Estate is situated in the south of Moscow. It is famous for its history, its architectural monuments and its remarkably beautiful scenery. It was built especially for the great empress Catherine II. In its construction took part several generations of architects and serf masters. But the first role in the building belonged to V. Bazhenov who later engaged his student M. Kazakov to work on the drafts and to build the pavilions.

There is a museum of decorative and folk art in Tsaritsyno.

The museum is open: in winter (November – March) Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 11.00 am to 5.00 pm; in summer (April – October) Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 11.00 am to 6.00 pm.

Closed: Monday, Tuesday.

Kuskovo Estate and the Ceramics Museum. This magnificent 18th-century architectural ensemble is situated in a large park with fanciful rotundas and pavilions. The Museum has a fabulous collection of Russian porcelain, antique ceramics, as well as Chinese, Danish, English and French majolica, pottery, and glass.

Open: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday; November – March from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm; April – October from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm.

Closed: Monday and Tuesday; last Wednesday of each month.

Arkhangelskoye Estate is and architectural monument of the 18th-19th centuries set in picturesque surroundings 16 km from Moscow. The park, sloping down to the Moskva River, is embellished with decorative stairways, pavilions and sculptures. Near the Museum is a restaurant offering an extensive selection of Russian cuisine.

Duration of the excursion – 4 hours.

Open: daily from 10.00 am to 8.00 pm.

Closed: Monday, Tuesday; last Wednesday of each month.

Abramtsevo Estate was a meeting place for such prominent figures in Russian cultural life as Sergei Aksakov, Nikolai Gogol, Ivan Turgenev, Viktor Vasnetsov, Valentin Serov, Ilya Repin and Mikhail Vrubel. Fyodor Chaliapin took part in amateur theatrical performances staged at Abramtsevo.

Duration of the excursion – 5 hours.

Open: daily from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.

Closed: Monday, Tuesday.

Museums (in the countryside)

Sergiyev Posad History and Art Museum-Preserve. It is situated in the town of Sergiyev Posad, which is also called “Russian Vatican”, 70 km northeast from Moscow. The Museum contains magnificent relics of Russian culture of the 14th-18th centuries and is famous by its well-known white-and-blue baroque bell tower which was one of the highest structures built in Russia in the 18th century. The Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra (Trinity Monastery of St. Sergius), built in the 1340s, played a major role in the history of Moscow and the Russian state. The famous “Trinity” by Andrei Rublev was painted especially for the central cathedral of the Lavra.

Duration of the excursion to Sergiyev Posad – about 7 hours.

Lev Tolstoy Yasnaya Polyana Estate. It is located 12 km southwest from Tula. The great Russian writer Lev Tolstoy was born and spent most of his life at Yasnaya Polyana, and is buried there. The museum contains the writer’s mansion, the school he founded for peasant children, and a park with Tolstoy’s grave.

The excursion to Yasnaya Polyana takes 12 hours.

Excursions to the Moscow countryside should be booked, preferably well in advance, through the Service Bureau in the hotel.

Theatres

The Bolshoi Theatre was designed by famed architect Joseph Bové. Its original name was the Imperial Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow. Its opera and ballet productions are famous all over the world. Among them are Tchaikovsky’s ballets Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and the Nutcracker, Adam’s Giselle, Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, and Khachaturian’s Spartacus; operas such as Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov, Glinka’s A Life for the Tsar, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Tsar’s Bride, Borodin’s Prince Igor.

Moscow Art Theatre (MKhAT), founded in 1897 by Constantin Stanislavski and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko, is famous by Anton Chekhov’s four major works, beginning with The Seagull. This play has been so firmly associated with the Moscow Art Theatre that the seagull became its emblem. In 1987, the theatre split into two troupes: Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre and Gorky Moscow Art Theatre. Oleg Tabakov was Chechov Moscow Art Theatre’s artistic director since 2000. The theatre is presently located just off Tverskaya Street, within walking distance of Red Square.

The Maly Theatre is the oldest theatre in Russia. Its company was founded by the Moscow University in 1756. The theatre’s artistic director is the national artist of the USSR, Yu.M.Solomin. The theatre’s repertoire mainly consists of Russian and world classics, especially plays by A.N.Ostrovskii. The theatre is well-known for its staging of A.K.Tolstoi’s dramatic trilogy about the history of the Russian state: Tsar Ivan Groznyy, Tsar Fedor Ioannovich and Tsar Boris. Must-sees at the Maly Theatre are Griboedov’s Gore ot uma and Pravda – khorosho, a schast’e luchshe.

The Obraztsov Puppet Theatre (formerly the State Central Puppet Theatre), founded by Sergey Obraztsov. Children and grown-ups alike love its puppet shows. Here children find themselves in the wonderful world of fairy-tales, meet their favourite characters, and enjoy the performances to the utmost.

The Moscow State Circus (on Vernadsky Prospekt) is an auditorium which was opened in 1971 and can seat up to 3,400 people. Performances are held each day in the afternoon and evening. The company employs several hundred performers and tours as the "Great Moscow State Circus troupe". The circus consists of a cast of thirty-one performers, including clowns, trapeze artists, aerial acrobats, springboard acrobats and illusionists, but does not feature animals. Since 2012 its director is Edgar Zapashny, a famous wild-animal tamer from a well-known circus dynasty.

Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard named after Yuri Nikulin still remains the most popular one. Among the famous performers who worked there were the clowns Karandash, Oleg Popov, and Yury Nikulin, who managed the company for fifteen years and whose name it has borne since his passing in 1997. In front of the building is a remarkable statue of Nikulin, whose son Maxim has been in charge of the circus ever since his death.

Evening performances in all Moscow theatres begin at 19:00; matinees – at 12:00. Concert and circus shows begin at 19:30.

Notes

Andrei Rublev Museum of Early Russian Art, the – Центральный музей древнерусской культуры и искусства им. Андрея Рублева

Annunciation Cathedral, the – Благовещенский собор

Archangel Cathedral, the – Архангельский собор

Assumption Cathedral, the – Успенский собор

Bell Tower of Ivan the Great, the – Колокольня Ивана Великого

Cathedral Square – Соборная Площадь

Christ the Savior Cathedral – Храм Христа Спасителя

Church of All Saints – Церковь Всех Святых (На Кулишках)

Church of the Ascension of Christ in Kolomenskoye – Церковь Вознесения в Коломенском

Church of the Deposition of the Robe, the – Церковь Ризположения

Donskoy Monastery, the – Донской монастырь

Faceted Palace, the – Грановитая палата

Fili Church – Церковь Покрова в Филях (Церковь Покрова Пресвятой Богородицы в Филях)

Grand Prince Andrew Bogolubsky – великий князь Андрей Боголюбский

Ivan the Red – Иван Красный

Ivan the Terrible – Иван Грозный

Iver God’s Mother Icon Chapel – Часовня Храма Иверской Иконы Божьей Матери

Kazan God’ Mother Icon Cathedral – Храм Казанской Иконы Божьей Матери

Kolomenskoye Estate-Museum, the – музей-усадьба Коломенское

Kuskovo Estate and the Ceramics Museum, the – усадьба Кусково и музей керамики

Moscow State University – Московский Государственный Университет имени М.В. Ломоносова (МГУ)

Museum of Oriental Art, the – музей Востока

Novodevichy Convent – Новодевичий монастырь

Old English Embassy, the – старое английское посольство

Palace of Congresses, the – Дворец Съездов

Patriarch’s Palace, the – Патриаршие палаты

Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, the – Музей Изобразительных Искусств имени А.С. Пушкина

Roman boyar residence – Палаты бояр Романовых

Sergiev Posad History and Art Museum-Preserve, the – Историко-художественный музей-заповедник в Сергиевом Посаде

St. Basil’s Cathedral (Cathedral of the Intercession) – Храм Василия Блаженного (Покровский Собор)

State Department Store (the Upper Trade Rows) – Государственный Универсальный Магазин, ГУМ (Верхние Торговые Ряды)

Time of Troubles, the – Смутное время, или Смута (период в истории России с 1598 по 1613 год, по другим данным по 1618 год, ознаменованный стихийными бедствиями, гражданской войной, русско-польской и русско-шведской войнами, тяжелейшим государственно-политическим и социально-экономическим кризисом)

Tretyakov Art Gallery, the – Третьяковская галерея

Triumph Arch – Триумфальная Арка

Tsar-Bell, the – Царь-колокол

Tsar-Cannon, the – Царь-пушка

Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill – Парк Победы на Поклонной горе

Vocabulary

1. A sweeping panorama of – обширная панорама чего-либо

2. A tour of memorable places – тур по памятным местам

3. A treasure-trove of culture and art – сокровищница культуры и искусства

4. An eminent figure in cultural life – выдающаяся персона в культурной жизни

5. An inseparable component of – неотделимая часть чего-либо

6. The intersection of trade routes – пересечение торговых путей

7. To acquaint smb. with smth. – знакомить кого-либо с чем-либо

8. To be booked in advance – быть заранее заказанным (зарезервированным)

9. To be embellished with – быть украшенным чем-либо

10. To be exquisitely decorated – быть изысканно (изящно) украшенным

11. To be mentioned in chronicles – быть упомянутым в летописях

12. To be set in picturesque surroundings – быть расположенным в живописном окружении

13. To be thrilled by a splendid panorama – быть взволнованным великолепной панорамой

14. To boast a collection of architectural monuments – хвастаться коллекцией архитектурных памятников

15. To comprise a unique open-air museum – составлять (включать в себя) уникальный музей на открытом воздухе

16. To contain fabulous collections – содержать поразительные (невероятные) коллекции

17. To contain treasures of old art – содержать сокровища древнего искусства

18. To enjoy the performances to the utmost – максимально (в высшей степени) наслаждаться представлениями

19. To give smb. an opportunity to see smth. – дать кому-либо возможность увидеть что-либо

20. To have a close look at – близко рассмотреть что-либо

21. To have on display the rarest works of painting – выставлять на показ редчайшие картины

22. To include a close-up view of – включать вид крупным планом на что-либо

23. To occupy an outstanding place – занимать выдающееся место

24. To play a major role – играть ведущую (значительную) роль

25. To remain smth. – оставаться чем-то

26. To rise in arms against – восстать с оружием в руках против

27. To suggest smb. do smth. – предложить кому-либо сделать что-либо

28. To symbolize the unity of some nations – символизировать единство нескольких наций

29. To win unfading glory for – снискать (завоевать) неувядаемую славу для

Tasks on the text

1. Make up special questions concerning the information about Moscow based on the text.

2. What do these numbers and dates refer to according to the text?

3. True or False? If the statement is false correct it.

1) 1137 is considered the year of Moscow foundation.

2) Moscow became the capital of the state twice: in the 15th and in the 18th centuries.

3) The first very important defeat of Hitler’s army was in Moscow.

4) You can get acquainted with the variety of Moscow streets during the General Sightseeing Tour of the city of Moscow.

5) You can see some of the city’s architectural sights from the river during the tour of Moscow’s Architecture.

6) Most of the buildings of the Dosnkoy Monastery are in the Moscow Baroque style.

7) There are a lot of splendid estate-museums in Moscow: Tsaritsyno, Kuskovo, Archangelskoye, Yasnaya Polyana and many others.

8) In the Boshoi theatre you can enjoy to the utmost opera and ballet productions famous all over the world.

Discussion

Choose one or two of the following questions and discuss them in pairs. Then share your ideas with the whole group.

1) Do you like going sightseeing in our capital city? What is your favourite place? Why do you like it?

2) Is it possible to visit all Moscow museums in a day or two? Why/Why not?

3) Have you ever been on any excursion in Moscow? What were your impressions? Would you recommend them to our foreign guests?

4) Do you like going to the theatres? When did you last go there? What theatre were you in? What did you see?

5) What fact from the history of Moscow do you consider the most interesting or amazing? Why does it impress you?

Tasks on Vocabulary

1. Fill in the gaps with a suitable word from the box.

1) The palaces and cathedrals of the Kremlin contain … of old art.

2) Moscow is situated at the … of trade routes in the heart of the Russian lands.

3) The city … the unity of many large and small nations and nationalities of the country.

4) From Vorobyovy Hills you can enjoy a … panorama of Moscow.

5) St. Basil’s Cathedral is a unique exquisitely … monument of the 16th century.

6) This oldest district … a whole collection of architectural monuments of the 16th-19th centuries.

7) This person used to be an … figure in Russian cultural and political life.

8) This museum has a fabulous collection of Russian porcelain, antique …, pottery and glass.

2. Match English words and combinations with the Russian equivalents.

3. Translate the following sentences into English using the words and combinations from Vocabulary.

1) Они были взволнованы великолепной панорамой города, которая открывалась со смотровой площадки (viewing point) в самом центре.

2) В этом музее можно найти информацию об одной из выдающихся персон в культурной жизни нашей страны.

3) Усадьба расположена в живописном окружении, рядом с прудом, в 16 км от города.

4) Фонтан на центральной площади города символизирует единство нескольких наций, которые когда-то входили в состав нашего государства.

5) Тур по памятным местам дает посетителям возможность увидеть самые незабываемые места города.

6) В прошлом месяце в музее изобразительных искусств выставляли напоказ редчайшие картины художников-импрессионистов и нам дали возможность увидеть эти прекрасные полотна.

7) Эта сокровищница древнерусской культуры и искусства была упомянута в летописях, которые хранятся в Историческом музее Москвы.

8) Во время экскурсии по городу мы познакомились с памятниками архитектуры и предложили друзьям посетить несколько музеев на их выбор.

Creative Tasks

Look at the information about the Richards family below and prepare an itinerary for a weekend break in Moscow for the whole family.

Mr. and Mrs. Richards and their two boys aged 13 and 15 are planning to spend a weekend in Moscow. They will arrive at the airport on Friday evening at 20.30 and leave at 21.45 on Sunday.

Mr. Richards is interested in the 16th century history and painting. He prefers bus trips, but will tolerate walking on foot.

Mrs. Richards enjoys river trips and theatre performances and she is very fond of religion.

The boys find art and culture very boring. Their main interests are boats and sport. They enjoy walking on foot and breathing fresh air, especially in the evening.

Unit 2. Russia. Saint Petersburg

Historical Review

Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. The city’s other names were Petrograd (1914–1924) and Leningrad (1924–1991). It is often called just Peterburg and is informally known as Piter.

It was founded by Tsar Peter I of Russia on May 27, 1703. Unlike some cities, it was not created by a process of gradual graceful development but was forcibly constructed, stone by stone, under the force and direction of Peter the Great, for whose patron saint the city is named. World-class architects participated in the building of the city and today it remains an imperial city of golden spires and gilded domes, of pastel palaces and candlelit cathedrals. St. Petersburg is a fascinating place which dazzles the eye of a visitor with numerous architectural landmarks, museums, palaces, parks, wide avenues, spectacular bridges and stylish monuments. Born in the heart of an emperor, St. Petersburg is Russia’s adopted child. So unlike the Russian cities that came before it, St. Petersburg – with its strict geometric lines and perfectly-planned architecture – is almost too European to be Russian. And yet it is too Russian to be European.

The history of the city is closely connected with uprisings, assassinations of Tsars, power takeovers and several revolutions that influenced not only Russia but the whole world.

The Revolution of 1905 initiated here and spread rapidly into the provinces.

During World War I, the name St. Petersburg was seen to be too German, so the city was renamed into Petrograd. In 1917 the February Revolution, which put an end to the Russian monarchy, and the October Revolution, which ultimately brought Vladimir Lenin to power, broke out in Petrograd. The city's proximity to the border and anti-Soviet armies forced the Bolsheviks under Lenin to transfer the capital to Moscow on March 5, 1918. In general St. Petersburg was the capital of the Russian Empire for more than two hundred years (1713–1728, 1732–1918).

After Lenin’s death the city was renamed into Leningrad.

For decades Leningrad was glorified by the Soviet propaganda as "the cradle of the revolution" and "the city of three revolutions", many spots related to Lenin and the revolutions, such as the cruiser Aurora, were carefully preserved. Many streets and other toponyms were renamed accordingly.

During World War II, Leningrad was besieged by Nazi Germany and co-belligerent Finland. The siege lasted 872 days from September 1941 to January 1944. The Siege of Leningrad was one of the longest, most destructive and most lethal sieges of major cities in modern history. It isolated the city from most supplies except those provided through the Road of Life across Lake Ladoga, and more than a million civilians died, mainly from starvation. Many others were eventually evacuated or escaped by themselves, so the city became largely depopulated. For the heroic resistance of the city and tenacity of the survivors of the Siege, in 1945 Leningrad became the first city in the Soviet Union awarded the title Hero City.

Now St. Petersburg is Russia’s second largest and Europe’s fourth largest city (by city limit) after Moscow, London and Paris. The city has 5.4 million inhabitants, and over 6 million people live in its vicinity.

St. Petersburg is situated on 44 islands in the Neva River’s delta and is famous for its embankments, museums and, of course, for its magical summer White Nights, which begin at the start of June and last to the middle of July.

Among cities of the world with over one million people, St. Petersburg is the northernmost. The Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments constitute a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a major European cultural center, an important Russian port on the Baltic Sea, it has been Russia’s political and cultural centre for 200 years. And sometimes it is referred to as the northern capital of Russia.

Excursions

Sightseeing tour (by bus, with a guide/interpreter; duration – about 4 hours). You will see Nevsky Prospect, Admiralty, the cradle of the city – Peter and Paul’s Fortress, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, legendary cruiser Aurora, Bronze Horseman, Spilled Blood Cathedral and others.

The City Tour comments with a drive along Nevsky Prospect towards Palace Square and the Winter Palace. From Vasilyevsky Island you may enjoy outstanding architectural features such as Peter and Paul Fortress and the five buildings of the Hermitage.

The tour continues onto the main building of St. Petersburg University, the imposing St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the monument to Peter the First, known as the Bronze Horseman, and Mariinsky Palace. Other famous sights include Nikolsky Cathedral, which is an active Russian Orthodox Church.

Then you will see Rastrelli Square, Smolny Cathedral and Smolny Institute, where you will be told about events of the Revolution of 1917.

After a drive along Nevsky Prospect you return to Arts Square with its beautiful buildings, housing the Mussorgsky Opera and the Ballet theatre and the Russian Museum.

City tour + Peter and Paul’s Fortress (by bus, with a guide/interpreter; duration – 4 hours).

The tour will take you throughout the historical center of St. Petersburg and includes spectacular views of the Neva river, Griboyedov canal, Moika canal, many bridges connecting the city islands, the Old Holland area of the city and trips to 2 main islands of Petrogradsky and Vasilyevsky.

The tour will introduce you to Nevsky Prospect – the city’s famous boulevard, the Winter Palace, other palaces and churches and to the areas of the city formerly inhabited by Dostoyevsky, Rasputin and numerous Russian princes and counts.

You will then visit Peter and Paul’s Fortress.

The fortress was founded by Peter the Great in 1703. Besides the ancient fortifications, the fortress includes the Peter and Paul’s Cathedral, built in the early 18th century. The bell-tower makes Peter and Paul’s Cathedral the tallest building in St. Petersburg (122.5 meters or 404 feet 3 inches high).

The cathedral includes the burial vault of Peter the Great and other Russian Tsars, the museum of Trubetskoy Bastion prison and the expositions: the History of St. Petersburg, History of the Imperial Mint as well as a printing workshop and the museum of space exploration and missilery. It is also possible to walk along the walls of the fortress and observe the fabulous architecture of the surrounding areas.

Today the fortress is one of St. Petersburg’s major tourist attractions and has become the emblem of the city.

Open: Thursday-Monday from 11.00 am to 5.00 pm, Tuesday to 4.00 pm.

Church Tour (by bus, with a guide/interpreter; duration – 3 hours).

During this tour you will get acquainted with the most famous cathedrals and churches of the city starting with St Isaac's Cathedral.

It was originally the city's main church and the largest cathedral in Russia.

It was built between 1818 and 1858, by the French-born architect Auguste Montferrand, and became one of the most impressive landmarks of the Russian Imperial capital. One hundred and eighty years later the gilded dome of St. Isaac's still dominates the skyline of St. Petersburg.

The cathedral's facades are decorated with sculptures and massive granite columns (made of single pieces of red granite), while the interior is adorned with incredibly detailed mosaic icons, paintings and columns made of malachite and lapis lazuli.

Open: Thursday-Monday from 11.00 am to 5.00 pm.

The next stop will be at the Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood (or just the Church on the Blood).

This marvelous Russian-style church was built on the spot where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated on March 1, 1881. Constructed between 1883 and 1907, the church was designed in the spirit of the 16th and 17th century Russian architecture, inspired particularly by St Basil's Cathedral on Red Square in Moscow.

The interior of the church, a memorial to the late Emperor Alexander II, was decorated with different shades of marble and several thousand square yards of mosaic.

This has to be one of the city's most beautiful sights and a great spot for taking pictures.

Open: Friday-Tuesday from 11.00 am to 6.00 pm.

Dostoevsky tour (by bus, with a guide/interpreter; duration – 4 hours).

Dostoevsky Walk. You will see ‘the other side’ of St. Petersburg – old slum areas around the Hay Market, a maze of small lanes and courtyards, straight out of the writer’s novels. Sites from “Crime and Punishment”.

Dostoevsky Museum. Arranged according to the original interior design of the great writer’s last apartment. On display there are documents, photographs and personal belongings of the writer. The exhibition outlines Dostoevsky’s life and work.

Open: daily except Mondays and last Wednesday of every month, from 11.00 am to 5.00 pm.

The Neva and the Bridges (by boat; duration – 1,5 hours)

Nevsky is crossed by three canals which are an integral part of St. Petersburg's beauty. There are a great number of rivers and canals in the city – it is a city "on water". That is why it is often referred to as "the Northern Venice" or "the Northern Amsterdam". There is no pleasure like taking a wonderful boat trip along the rivers and canals of the "bridge city".

Oh, the bridges! They will take your breath away. There are about 342 bridges in the city, and among the most beautiful ones are the Palace Bridge, the Trinity Bridge, the Foundry Bridge and the Bridge of Peter the Great across the Neva river, and the Anichkov Bridge across one of the canals – the Fontanka river. It is situated right in the Nevsky Prospect and is considered to be the most romantic place in St. Petersburg! The Anichkov Bridge is so famous and loved by all for its four beautiful sculptures of men and horses! They are so expressive and dynamic that you would think they are alive! And each of the sculptures is different!

Shipping season is from April 19 to September 30; bridges open from May to late October according to a special schedule.

Museums (in the city)

The Hermitage Museum (on foot, duration – 3 hours).

The Hermitage Museum is Russia’s best gallery of world art, one of the most prominent art museums in the world and definitely the main tourist attraction of St. Petersburg.

The museum was founded in 1764 when Catherine the Great purchased a collection of 255 paintings from the German city of Berlin. Today, the Hermitage boasts over 2.7 million exhibits and displays a diverse range of art and artifacts from all over the world and from throughout history (from Ancient Egypt to the early 20th century Europe).

The Hermitage’s collections include works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian, a unique collection of Rembrandt and Rubens, many French Impressionist works by Renoir, Cezanne, Manet, Monet and Pissarro, numerous canvasses by Van Gogh, Matisse, Gauguin and several sculptures by Rodin. The collection is both enormous and diverse and is an essential stop for all those interested in art and history.

The experts say that if you were to spend a minute looking at each exhibit on display in the Hermitage, you would need 11 years before you’d seen them all.

Open: Tuesday-Sunday from 10.30 am to 5.00 pm.

Russian Museum

The State Russian Museum is the world’s largest museum of Russian art. It is located in the very center of St Petersburg, just of the city’s central magisterial, Nevsky Prospect. The museum is housed in the former Mikhailovsky Palace, a stunning monument of Empire architecture.

The collection of the Russian Museum numbers some 400,000 works and covers the entire history of Russian fine art from the 10th century to the present day. It reflects virtually every form and genre of art in Russia, including a unique collection of Old Russian icons, works of painting, graphic art and sculpture, decorative and applied art, folk art and numismatics, as well as the world's finest collection of Russian avaunt-garde.

If you walk from the main building up to Nevsky Prospect and then turn to the right, you can see the plastic front of the oldest Stroganov Palace, named after its owners, the Stroganov family.

Then you can have a wonderful trip upon embankment of the Moika river. When you come to Mars Square, you can see to the left the Marble Palace, built in the late Neoclassicism style. And to the right you can see the romantic silhouette of St. Michael's (Engineers) Castle.

Open: Wednesday – Monday from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.

Kazan Cathedral

The cathedral is named after the miracle-working icon of Our Lady of Kazan – the protectress of the Imperial House of Romanov – which was kept here. The cathedral was put up in 1811 by architect Andrey Voronikhin on Nevsky Prospect – the main street of the city.

It was conceived as a replica of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome. It has the colonnade that is similar to that of Bernini. But there are certain differences between the two constructions and Kazan Cathedral has its own inimitable charm and brilliance. In 1811-1858, Kazan Cathedral was the main cathedral of the city. In front of it there are two monuments to the field marshals who defeated Napoleon in fearless battles – Kutuzov and Barklay de Tolly. Mikhail Kutuzov is buried inside the cathedral.

After 1932, when the cathedral was closed, the building housed the Museum of the history of Religion and Atheism. In 1991, services have been resumed. Now it is an acting Orthodox church.

Open: daily.

Kunstkammer

It is the oldest state museum in Russia. It was founded in 1704 as the library and collections of "monsters and rarities" gathered by Peter I.

In 1992, the Kunstkammer became an independent museum and research institute within the Department of History of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The museum has kept its original title – "Kunstkammer" (translating from German – "chambers of curiosities") – and has the name of Peter the Great given to it in 1903. Today its complete name is: Peter the Great's Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkammer) of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Open: Tuesday-Sunday from 11.00 am to 4.30 pm. (except last Tuesday of each month).

Cruiser Aurora

The cruiser Aurora was built in 1897-1900 by the "New Admiralty" in St. Petersburg and joined Russia's Baltic fleet in 1903. The ship is 126.8 meters (418 feet 5 inches) long, 16.8 meters (55 feet 5 inches) wide and weighs 7600 tons. With the speed of 20 knots (23.3 miles per hour) it can travel independently for up to 1440 nautical miles.

As the training ship of the Baltic fleet, on the night of October 25-26, 1917, the Aurora fired a blank shot at the Winter Palace (then the residence of the Provisional Government), giving the signal to the rebellious workers, soldiers and sailors to storm the palace. That moment changed Russia's history for over 70 years.

In 1952 the cruiser was turned into the Ship Museum, which became the branch of the Central Naval Museum. In 1992 Saint Andrew Naval Flag raised over the Cruiser Aurora.

The Aurora exposition features over 500 original documents, photographs, and ship objects concerning the cruiser's history and its participation in Russian history. For those who wish there are thematic excursions of the underwater cruiser part and machine-boiler sector.

Open: Tuesday-Thursday, Saturday-Sunday from 10.30 am to 4.00 pm.

Museums (in the countryside)

Peterhof, modern name is Petrodvorets (by bus, with a guide/interpreter; duration – 6 hours).

The Grand Palace of Peterhof stands on the hill. Two parks which surround it received the names Upper & Lower ones. The most famous part of this ensemble is Lower Park. With its 173 fountains it makes a strong competition to French Versailles.

On the territory of Lower Park you can find three monumental fountains, one of them comprising the famous Samson – "Samson, tearing apart the jaws of the lion". The whole composition of the fountain complex is devoted to the victory over Sweden. Samson symbolizes Russia defeating Sweden – the lion. The Great Cascade is decorated with gilded statues of ancient Greek and Roman gods and heroes, which all are allegories of different events of the Northern War.

Since the time of Peter the Great remained the so-called joke-fountains – a fun for kids and adults. For example, a calm park bench. Once you sit on it, the jets of water pour over you! There are 5 types of joke-fountains, all different and unique.

Fountains start to work on the last weekend of May and are closed around the middle of September. The exact dates are different from year to year.

There are 8 museums on the territory of the park.

Open: daily except Mondays and last Tuesday of each month, from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.

Lower Park (fountains) is open daily, from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm.

Gatchina (by bus – with a guide/interpreter; duration – 6 hours).The palace and park complex of Gatchina, a town located 45 km south-west of St. Petersburg, is an outstanding example of eighteenth-century landscape architecture. The palace for Catherine II’s favorite, Count Orlov, built in the Early Classical Style upon the project of Antonio Rinaldi between 1766 and 1781, was enlarged by Vincenzo Brenna in 1796 – 1798, and reconstructed by Roman Kuzmin between 1845 and 1860. It had about 600 rooms, a theatre, and many works of art, and was also surrounded by a fine park. Upon Orlov’s disgrace the palace passed to Catherine's son, Paul I, who transformed it into a combination of palace, fortress, and barracks. Although badly damaged during World War II, the palace was restored and is now a museum. The modern city is a railway junction, with machine building, metalworking, and light industries.

Gatchina Palace is opened: 10.00 am – 5.00 pm.

Closed: Monday and last Tuesday of each month.

Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin) (by bus – with a guide/interpreter; duration – 6 hours).

Tsarskoye Selo (formerly known as Pushkin) is one of St. Petersburg's numerous Imperial estates. Located just 25 kilometers south of the city, the estate boasts a large landscape park, dotted with architectural follies, and centered on the magnificent blue, white and gold Catherine Palace. Named after its creator, Empress Catherine, the second wife of Peter the Great.

Catherine Palace houses some beautiful Baroque interiors, including the luxurious Grand Hall, a long, gold, mirrored ballroom. The Palace also boasts a unique Amber Room, whose priceless amber panels were stolen by Nazi troops during World War II, but which are now being painstakingly recreated by Russian craftsmen.

Another of Tsarskoye Selo’s major attractions is the Lyceum, located on the edge of the estate. Founded at the beginning of the 19th century and remarkably well-preserved, the Lyceum was a boarding school that once taught the most celebrated of all Russian poets, Alexander Pushkin. The Lyceum was created specifically to educate members of the Russian ruling elite and prepare them for careers in government service. Visitors to the Lyceum are allowed access to its well-preserved classrooms, library, student bedrooms and much more.

Open: 10.00 am – 5.00 pm.

Closed: Tuesdays and last Monday of each month

Pavlovsk (by bus – with a guide/interpreter; duration – 6 hours).

Just a few miles away from Pushkin lies the Imperial Estate of Pavlovsk, the residence of Emperor Paul I, the son of Catherine the Great. The estate’s magnificent palace sits on hill overlooking an English-style landscaped park, with a beautiful river running through it.

The Grand Palace was built by the Scottish architect Charles Cameron between 1782 and 1786 in the general style of an Italian villa. Initially meant as a private home for Paul and his wife Maria Fedorovna, the estate was later given an Imperial facelift when Paul ascended the throne after the death of Catherine the Great in 1796.

The Palace’s interiors reveal a multitude of artistic and architectural influences and include an Egyptian Vestibule, the Italian Hall under the main Palace dome, featuring classical Roman sculptures, a Greek Hall filled with luxurious French furnishings and Paul's War Hall, demonstrating his fascination with all military things.

Open: 10.00 am – 5.00 pm.

Closed: Fridays and the first Monday of each month

Theatres

Mariinsky Theatre, founded in 1783, is situated on Theatre Square. It is considered second in importance among Russia's theatres, after the Bolshoy Theatre in Moscow.

Ballet, opera and drama troupes have all performed on this stage (the drama troupe has become independent in 1803). The famous Russian ballet dancer A.I.Istomina, to whom Pushkin has devoted poetry, also danced here. In 1836 M.I.Glinka's opera "Life for the Czar" (or "Ivan Susanin", as it was renamed after the revolution) premiered here, and this event has marked the beginning of classical Russian opera.

The theatre was designed by architect A.K.Kavos and reconstructed in the late 19th century under the leadership of V.A.Shreter. It was named after Alexander II's wife Mary. The artistic development of the Mariinsky theatre is associated with performances (often premieres) of operas by the great Russian composers such as N.A.Rimsky-Korsakov, P.I.Chaikovsky, S.S.Prokofyev, D.D.Shostakovich and others, as well as foreign classical composers. The theatre has always had eminent conductors, and the troupe has consisted of world-famous opera and ballet stars such as F.Shalyapin, A.Pavlova, V.Nizhinsky, G.Ulanova and M.Baryshnikov.

Since 1935 until recently the theatre has had the name of Leningrad's communist leader S.M.Kirov. It has received high national awards. The hall holds 1,625 people, and one can scarcely find any vacant seats at any performance. The Kirov Ballet troupe, as it is called abroad, is often on tours.

Tovstonogov Bolshoi Drama Theatre. One of the best theatres in St. Petersburg, if not all Russia. It was founded in 1919 on the initiative of M. Gorky, A. Lunacharsky, A. Blok and M. Andreyeva. After the death of G.A. Tovstonogov, who hds been the theatre's stage director from 1956 until 1989, the theatre was named after him in recognition of his merits and talent. The troupe had always been very bright, although many actors were leaving for other theatres. The theatre is currently experiencing difficult times, as it is not easy to replace the great director, but it seems that the theatre is heading in the right direction. Ballet artists are performing here during the summer, when the theatre troupe is on vacation. The theatre has been awarded several orders and the "Academic" title. Its capacity is 1,258 seats.

Musorgsky Opera and Ballet Theatre

The theatre was established in 1918 as an affiliate of the Mariinsky Theatre. It is most known for its premieres of pieces by contemporary composers, such as S. Prokofyev, D. Shostakovich, A. Khachaturyan, R. Schedrin and others. The theatre created its own troupe during 1931-33.

Today this theatre is the only one in the city to stage plays such as "Fadetta", "Tsar Boris", "The White Knight" and "MacBeth". It occupies the building of the Mikhailovsky Theatre, named after Nicholas I's brother prince Mikhail Pavlovich.

The theatre's capacity is 1,151 seats. French drama and comedy has been presented in it for privileged audiences. A French opera troupe has also been performing here for a long period of time. The building was constructed in 1831-33 on Mikhailovskaya Square (presently called Arts Square) by architect A.P. Bryullov.

Notes

“Samson, tearing apart the jaws of the lion” – “Самсон, раздирающий пасть льва” (фонтан Петергофа)

Admiralty – Адмиралтейство

Amber Room – Янтарная комната в Екатерининском дворце (Царское Село)

Anichkov Bridge – Аничков мост

Arts Square – Площадь Искусств

Bridge of Peter the Great – Мост Петра Великого (Большеохтинский)

Bronze Horseman – Медный Всадник

Catherine Palace – Екатерининский дворец в Пушкине

Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood (or the Church on the Blood, or Spilled Blood Cathedral) – Собор Спаса-на-Крови

Cruiser Aurora – крейсер «Аврора»

Dostoevsky Museum – Государственный Литературно-мемориальный музей Ф. М. Достоевского

Foundry Bridge – Литейный мост

Gatchina – Гатчина (Государственный художественно-архитектурный дворцово-парковый музей-заповедник «Гатчина»)

Gatchina Palace – Гатчинский дворец

Grand Palace of Peterhof – Большой дворец Петергофа

Gulf of Finland – Финский залив

Hay Market – Сенной рынок

Hermitage – Государственный Эрмитаж

Imperial Estate of Pavlovsk – императорская резиденция в Павловске

Kazan Cathedral – Казанский собор

Lyceum – Царскосельский Лицей

Marble Palace – Мраморный дворец

Mariinsky Palace – Мариинский дворец

Mariinsky Theatre – Мариинский театр

Mars Square – Марсово поле

Museum of the history of Religion and Atheism – Государственный музей истории религии

Musorgsky Opera and Ballet Theatre – Театр оперы и балета имени М.П. Мусоргского

Nikolsky Cathedral – Никольский собор

Palace Bridge – Дворцовый мост

Palace Square – Дворцовая площадь

Paul’s War Hall – Зал Войны императора Павла I в Павловском Дворце (Павловск)

Peter and Paul’s Cathedral – Петропавловский собор

Peter and Paul’s Fortress – Петропавловская крепость

Peter the Great's Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkammer) – Музей антропологии и этнографии им. Петра Великого (Кунсткамера)

Peterhof – Петергоф (Государственный художественно-архитектурный дворцово-парковый музей-заповедник «Петергоф»)

Rastrelli Square – Площадь Растрелли

Russian Museum – Государственный Русский музей

Smolny Cathedral – Смольный собор

Smolny Institute – Смольный Институт

St. Isaac’s Cathedral – Исаакиевский собор

St. Michael’s (Engineers) Castle – Михайловский (Инженерный) замок

Stroganov Palace – Строгановский дворец

Theatre Square – Театральная площадь

Tovstonogov Bolshoi Drama Theatre – Большой Драматический Театр имени Г. А. Товстоногова (БДТ)

Trinity Bridge – Троицкий мост

Tsarskoye Selo – Царское Село (Государственный художественно-архитектурный дворцово-парковый музей-заповедник «Царское Село»)

Upper & Lower parks – Верхний и Нижний парки в Петергофе

Winter Palace – Зимний дворец

Vocabulary

1. To be informally known as – в разговорной речи известный как

2. A process of gradual development – процесс постепенного развития

3. Stone by stone – камень за камнем

4. To dazzle the eye of a visitor – завораживать посетителя

5. Perfectly-planned architecture – идеально спланированная архитектура

6. To be renamed into – переименованный в

7. To bring smb. to power – привести к власти

8. To transfer the capital to – перенести столицу в

9. To preserve – сохранять

10. Heroic resistance – героическое сопротивление

11. The cradle of the city – колыбель города

12. To comment with – акцентировать внимание на

13. The burial vault of Russian Tsars – усыпальница русских царей

14. The museum of space exploration and missilery – музей космических исследований и ракетостроения

15. A great spot for taking pictures – замечательное место для фотографирования

16. Old slum areas – район трущоб

17. To outline one’s life and work – охарактеризовывать (обрисовывать) жизнь и творчество

18. To display a diverse range of art – демонстрировать разнообразные направления в искусстве

19. In the very centre of the city – в самом центре города

20. A great number of – огромное количество

21. Decorative and applied art – декоративное и прикладное искусство

22. Embankment – набережная

23. Miracle-working icon – чудотворная икона

24. To make a strong competition to – составлять сильную конкуренцию

25. An outstanding example of a landscape architecture – яркий пример ландшафтной архитектуры

26. Mirrored ballroom – зеркальный зал

27. Well-preserved classrooms – хорошо сохранившиеся классные комнаты

28. To be filled with luxurious furnishings – наполненный роскошными убранствами

29. To be on tours – гастролировать

30. In recognition of one’s merits and talent – в качестве признания чьих-либо заслуг и таланта

31. An affiliate of – филиал

Tasks on the text

1. Make up special questions concerning the information about St. Petersburg from the text.

2. Match numbers and dates on the left with the events on the right.

3. Choose the odd one out in each line and explain.

a) Vasilyevsky, Petrogradsky, Mariinsky, Krestovsky, Yelagin.

b) St. Isaac’s Cathedral, St. Basil’s Cathedral, Peter and Paul’s Cathedral, Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood.

c) Neva, Palace, Trinity, Anichkov, Foundry.

d) Gatchina, Peterhof, Pavlovsk, Kunstkammer.

e) Upper Park, Samson, Catherine Palace, Lower Park.

f) Amber Room, Italian Hall, Paul’s War Hall, Greek Hall.

g) Palace Square, Arts Square, Red Square, Decembrists Square.

Discussion

Choose one or two of the following questions and discuss them in pairs. Then share your ideas with the whole group.

1. What attractions do you find the most interesting in St. Petersburg? How much time do you need to see all of them?

2. What season would you choose to go to St. Petersburg and why? Who would you prefer to go with? How many days would you like to spend there?

3. Compare Moscow and St. Petersburg. Why were these two cities the capitals of Russia and one of them still is? What is the most remarkable about each of them?

4. Have you ever been to St. Petersburg? What was the first thing that attracted your attention? Why? Describe it.

5. How has the historical past influenced on St. Petersburg’s architectural and cultural life? Prove from the text.

6. Describe St. Petersburg (in general).

Tasks on Vocabulary

1. Find in the texts adjectives which are used to describe architectural monuments. Write them down. Use them to describe any attractions of the city for tourists according to the following plan:

2. Translate these phrases into English using the words from the texts.

Акцентировать внимание на, зеркальный зал, демонстрировать разнообразные направления в искусстве, в самом центре города, переименованный в, чудотворная икона, усыпальница русских царей, в качестве признания чьих-либо заслуг и таланта, перенести столицу в другой город, процесс постепенного развития, огромное количество, район трущоб, гастролировать, замечательное место для фотографирования, декоративное и прикладное искусство, набережная, филиал.

3. Using the phrases from ex. 2 make up 5 your own sentences in Russian and in English on two separate pieces of paper.

Creative Tasks

The situation: Student A is a manager of a tour agency. Student B is a tourist who wants to visit St. Petersburg. He comes to the tour agency and asks for advice what to see in the city.

Use your imagination and information from the texts and make up a dialogue.

Revision Tasks

Choose any Russian city (except Moscow and St. Petersburg) – a tourist attraction – and prepare a short presentation according to the following plan:

Unit 3. England. London

Historical Review

London is the capital and largest urban area of both England and the United Kingdom. It is the largest city in the European Union and the ninth-largest city in the world. It has a very interesting and long history which spans nearly 2,000 years, beginning with the arrival of the Romans soon after their invasion of Britain in AD43.

The Romans (A43– 410). They laid out buildings, streets and a port, and shortly afterwards they built a bridge. They called the settlement Londinium and it soon became the capital of Roman Britain.

The Saxons and the Vikings. Later in the 5th century, Anglo-Saxons settled just west of Londinium and formed the town of Lundenwic. Saxon London consisted of many wooden huts with thatched roofs. In 842 the Danish Vikings looted London. They burned a large part of the town.

The Vikings and Saxons ruled jointly England until 1042, when Edward the Confessor became King of both the Vikings and the Saxons. Edward the Confessor (1042-1066) built a wooden palace at Westminster. Later Parliament met here. Because of this Westminster became the seat of government not the city of London itself. Edward also built Westminster Abbey, which was consecrated a few weeks before his death.

Tudor London (1485 – 1603). In 1485 Henry VII became King, followed by Henry VIII. They were the first Tudor kings (Tudor was their family name). London grew in importance under the Tudor rule. It became the centre of trade and government.

Henry VIII created palaces such as St. James. He is also famous for closing the city monasteries in 1536, after the Roman Catholic Church refused to grant him a divorce. During the reign of Elizabeth I, the daughter of Henry VIII, London was wealthy and successful city. Theatre became popular, helped by the arrival of playwright William Shakespeare sometime between 1585 and 1593.

The River Thames was very important in Tudor times as Britain’s navy was expanded. Dockyards were built and ships were sent to explore the world.

Stuart London (1603 – 1649) (1660 – 1714). The first Stuart King, James I, came to the throne in 1603. He was already King James the Sixth of Scotland. He united the two countries under one king.

During the reign of Charles I, the second son of James I, the Civil War broke out in 1642 between supporters of the king and parliamentary forces, led by a Puritan called Oliver Cromwell. The King lost and was beheaded in London in 1649 and Britain became a republic known as the Commonwealth. In 1660 the monarchy was returned.

London suffered two disasters in later Stuart years: the Great Plague in 1665 which killed about 70,000 people, and the Great Fire of London in 1666 which destroyed two thirds of the City. To prevent such a disaster happening again King Charles II, the son of Charles I, commanded that all new houses in London should be of stone and brick, not wood.

Georgian London (1714 – 1837). In 1714 George I became king. He began a line of Kings and Queens called the Hanovers, who ruled Britain until 1837. At this time, Britain was one of the most powerful countries in the world, with London at the heart of its trade. Merchants and bankers grew rich and many of them lived in the new West End. Other people suffered terrible poverty. Thousands lived in filthy East End slums, where disease, crime and drunkenness were common. The streets of London were badly lit and full of beggars and thieves.

Several hospitals were founded during the Georgian era including Westminster (1720), Guys (1724), St. George’s (1733), London (1740) and Middlesex (1745).

Victorian London (1837 – 1901). In 1837, Victoria became Queen at the age of 18. The time while she was Queen is called the Victorian era. London was busy with trade and industry, and it grew fast. Better lighting, plumbing and transport developed, too. By the time Victoria died in 1901, London was a very different city. London expanded enormously as industry came to Britain and railways were built linking much of Britain to the capital. London was the centre of the world trade and had a large, powerful Empire.

By the 1840s gas lights were being used to light streets all over London. Electric light was first used in Holborn in 1883. By the 1840s there were also horse drawn buses and from the 1870s horse drawn trams.

The World first Underground railway ('The Tube') opened in 1862. At first carriages were pulled by steam trains. The system was electrified in 1890-1905.

The Twentieth Century. London survived two great wars of the century. The First World War began in 1914. The first air raid hit London in 1915 and during the war over 835 people were killed in air attacks.

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