The History of Don Cossacks

T he History of Don Cossacks
Rostov – Starocherkassk – Novocherkassk – Taganrog – Azov
Duration: 5 days/4 nights
Accommodation: TWIN/ DBL rooms
Meal Arrangement: Half Board
Day 1
Meeting at the airport of the city of Rostov-on-Don. Transfer to the “Hermitage” hotel. Rostov city tour with visiting the Cathedral of Our Lady Nativity,
city architectural monuments, the embankment, "Gold of the Scythians" exhibition in the Museum of Regional Studies and the city of Nakhichevan-onDon (nowadays it is one of the districts of Rostov-on-Don). Peculiarities of architecture and city planning of Don Armenian settlements.
Day 2
Bus tour to Starocherkasskaya stanitsa, the former capital of free Don Cossacks (middle of the XVIIth-XVIIIth centuries) with visiting the Army Cathedral
of Christ’s Resurrection with unique 5-tier carved iconostasis – an outstanding specimen of woodcarving; typical Cossack houses – kurens, town
residence of Atamans, the main square – Maidan, traiding houses, the only hipped-roof belfry of the 18th century in the south of Russia and the mansion
of the Efremovs family, the Don Cossack Atamans, where the ceremony of initiation to Cossacks and the performance of the Cossack folklore ensemble
will take place.
Day 3
Tour to Novocherkassk with visiting the Ataman Palace, the Archway of Triumph, the buildings of the officer assembly and the military chancery, private
residences of nobility. Visiting the Army Cathedral of Christ’s Resurrection (new Byzantine style, the 2nd half of the XIXth century).
Day 4
Taganrog city tour with visiting historic districts of the XVIIIth century, the Museum of Local Lore and the Chekhov Museum (the Chekhov's House, Store
of the Chekhovs Family, the Chekhov's Museum of Literature), the Alferaki Palace, the picturesque embankment, the stone stairs with a sundial, the
Tchaikovsky's House. Optionally you can visit A.A. Durov Museum and the Museum of "Town-Planning and Life".
Day 5
Tour to Azov with visiting the Azov fortress of the XVIII th century, ramparts with the Gate of Alexis, powder magazine, the Azov History, Archaeology and
Palaeontology Museum-Reserve that comprises more than 240 thousand exhibits, including a unique skeleton of an elephant - trogonterii. Participation in
the ancient ceremony of the Cossack wedding.