Novgorod the Great Tour in St. Petersburg, Russia
Velikiy (Great) Novgorod is one of the most ancient Russian cities, a real treasury of national culture and arts. One can't imagine Russian history without Novgorod. Its history counts over 1200 years - the first chronicles mention of Novgorod is dated by 859 AD. The city was developing as a major trade center, and had been very rich and powerful. Novgorod had very close relations with German merchants - they had their own guildhouse in the city. Velikiy Novgorod had been a key trade, culture, and crafting city of the Russian Empire till its end in the beginning of XX century. None of the Russian cities has as many architecture, art, and craftsmanship monuments of X - XVII centuries. Novgorod is rightfully known as a city-museum of the Medieval Russia. Since 1992 all Novgorod monuments are protected by UNESCO as a part of the World Cultural Heritage.
Kremlin of Novgorod, St. Sophia Cathedral, Vitoslavlitsy Open-Air museum of wooden architecture, Yuriev Monastery