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OPERA LOVERS GROUP |
Day 1: Kyiv – a rrive in Kyiv. Guided sightseeing tour of the city to St. Sophia Cathedral – a unique piece of the Ukrainian monumental architecture and art from the 11 th cent., Golden Gates (11 th cent.), St. Volodymyr's Cathedral - of great artistic value, erected in 1882 in neo-Byzantine style, St. Andrew's Church (18 th cent.) - Rastrelli's masterpiece and the newly restored St. Michael's Cathedral. Hotel check-in. Welcome dinner with ethnic music in a Ukrainian national restaurant. In the evening you are invited to a performance in the National Opera House in Kyiv.
Day 2: Kyiv - the morning is spent exploring the city's most valuable treasure – Kyiv-Cave Monastery – one of the biggest orthodox monasteries worldwide, a unique architectural complex of gilded domed churches and multiple caves from the 12 th cent. Visit to the Museum of “Historical Treasures of Ukraine”. After a short rest and freshening up you may choose to walk along ancient cobblestone streets of Andriyivskyy Uzviz – the ‘Montmatre of Kyiv‘ – a colourful market of ethnic crafts and local artists' works. Dinner in the hotel. Evening concert in the Concert Hall (Philharmonic Society).
Day 3: Kyiv, Odesa – the Museum of Ukrainian Applied Art – unites a wide range of displays of fabrics, tapestries, embroideries, pottery, woodcarvings, ivory, leather and metal items, ethnic paintings, decorative glass, porcelain and pottery. Free afternoon. Depart for Odesa by first class overnight train with sleeping compartment (plane is possible).
Day 4: Odesa – arrive in Odesa, the city known as the “the Black Sea Pearl” city. Guided sightseeing tour of the city includes a visit to Trinity Church , St. Paul's Church, the famous Potemkin Steps which descend 450 feet to the Black Sea and elegant Deribasivkiy Boulevard … A visit to the music school named after Stolyarskyy where many well-known musicians were studied such as Richter, Gorovitz, Neigauz… Dinner in the hotel. The evening is highlighted with a performance in the world famous Odesa Opera House.
Day 5: Odesa - the Museum of Eastern and Western Arts renowned for its excellent collection of antique sculpture, ancient Greek ceramics, Roman glassware as well as works of Western art. The afternoon is free, strolling down the Prymorskyy Boulevard, shopping. Departure for Lviv by first class overnight train with sleeping compartment.
Day 6: Lviv – arrive in Lviv. Few cities anywhere in the world have such an enduring appeal, as does Lviv - the ‘heart and soul of Western Ukraine'. The city of Lviv is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Sightseeing tour of the city which was established at the crossroads of ancient trade routes from the frontiers of ancient cultures. Its unique architectural monuments, the cosy and somewhat mystic medieval atmosphere and the traditions and charm have been remarkably preserved through the ages. A visit to the largely baroque St.George Cathedral, ancient Lviv Universities, ample central avenues, beautiful theatres, monuments and parks. Enjoy a breathtaking view of the city from the High Castle Hill. Hotel check-in. Free afternoon to relax or take a leisurely stroll. Dinner in an ethnic national restaurant.
Day 7: Lviv - walking tour of medieval Lviv. You begin in the main square, the Rynok, with Renaissance facades from the 16th cent., Town Hall building and fountains and continue to the late 16th -cent. Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the largely Gothic Roman Catholic Cathedral and the ancient Armenian Cathedral, an ensemble with parts dating back to the 13th cent. In the afternoon, a visit to the Lviv Art Gallery which opened in the 19th cent. for the West European Art Museum. The collection of Lviv Art Gallery is one of the richest of its kind in Ukraine, including 53.000 works of European and Ukrainian artists: Goya, Titian, de la Tour, Mateiko, Trusch… After dinner, a performance in the renowned Lviv Opera House.
Day 8: Lviv - the Museum of Solomia Krushelnytska (1873-1952), the world renowned opera singer. At the turn of the 19th and 20th cents. there were 4 male opera singers Shalyapin Ruffo, Batistini and Caruzo who were famous all over the world and the only woman who shared fame on equal level was Solomia Krushelnytska. A visit to the music school named after Solomiya Krushelnytska. The school gave birth to many well known Ukrainian musicians such as Bashmet, Krysa, Kotorovych. Concert in Lviv Organ Concert Hall or Philarmony. Farewell dinner in one of Lviv's great restaurants.
Day 9: Lviv – fly or train from Lviv.
Note: See estimated prices for the Highlights of Ukraine Tour (Lviv-Odesa-Kyiv).
Agent's Commission: 35 EUR