There are a lot of places in the Leningrad region, which is worth going to the curious tourist. Beautiful estates and palaces, unique monuments and mighty castles this region is simply motley. Our trip will take place in the south, first we will go to Gatchina, and from there we will already go to Veliky Novgorod. Then we plan to go to the Valdai National Park, see the local sights and go back to St. Petersburg.
Today we plan to go to one of the most interesting cities in Russia - Veliky Novgorod. On the way we will visit several beautiful and memorable places, and in the evening we plan to be there.
When leaving St. Petersburg, we could not deny ourselves the pleasure and visited the famous Gatchina Palace Park. There are so many places to pay attention to, but since we still had plans, we limited ourselves to a short walk near Lake White and also walked along the paths of the Lower Dutch Garden.
The Leningrad region not only gave the world a lot of talents, but also became home to people who inspired talents. And one of these people is the famous nanny of the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, Arina Rodionovna. We were lucky to pass by a small house, where this woman lived and where the museum of her memory is now equipped.
After the tour, we decided to make a short stop in a small town called Vyritsa for lunch. The local restaurant Cafe Oredezh was perfect for us. It's simple, but delicious. The menu offers a wide range of dishes and snacks, from sushi to pasta.
In the afternoon we continued our way to Veliky Novgorod, and the next stop was the beautiful Maryino estate. On its territory there is a rather extensive walking area, where visitors can see a variety of sculptures, as well as the colorful facades of palaces and houses. There are also excursions around the estate and anyone can stay here for a few days in comfortable apartments.
At the entrance to Veliky Novgorod we decided to turn for a short while into a small village Selishchi, where the famous Arakcheev barracks are located, or rather what is left of them today. It must be said that, despite the neglect, you can still clearly see the outlines of these very impressive buildings, so without a good image to leave here was difficult.
After the walk we came to Veliky Novgorod and immediately decided to go to dinner. Among numerous cafes and restaurants we liked Italian "Napoli". In a cozy atmosphere we tasted local pasta carbonara, and also took some bruschetes with tomatoes.
Our journey continues, and today we are planning to visit Valday. We will visit the national park itself and also visit some interesting places in the city.
In a small cafe called Gurmetto, we decided to spend our morning. The atmosphere here is very cozy and hospitable. The menu was full of usual breakfast dishes, as well as a variety of baked goods. After a little snack on salads and cakes, we moved on.
When planning our trip, we expected to devote our time to studying historical monuments and sightseeing, but when we found ourselves in the Valdai National Park, we changed our mind immediately. Nature here is so mesmerizing and majestic that it would be criminal not to take a little walk through its dense forests with a camera.
We went to a small cozy tavern at the pond farm Russian Fishing. Home-like atmosphere disposed to stay here longer, but we were in a hurry. On the menu we had meat dishes to taste, as well as fish soup and vegetable salad.
Another very interesting place in the city was the Museum of Bells, located on Truda Street. Its exposition tells visitors about the history and various tricks of the bell ringers' craft. I was glad that you could try to play a melody on big bells and small bells yourself.
After the museum, we headed back to Veliky Novgorod. We had to move quite a long way, so we decided to make a small stop near the monument to the pilots of the Great Patriotic War. I must say that the area here, as well as the monument itself, is very well-groomed and tidy. There is a small area for a walk, a great place to get some fresh air.
There's a gas station ahead! Make a comfortable stop, buy water and goods on the road.
After a long trip we just needed a little rest, so we went straight to a restaurant for dinner on arrival. We liked the family trattoria "Teplo", which serves Italian as well as Mediterranean cuisine. We took some salads and also tasted the local lasagna.
Today concludes our little journey. We return to St. Petersburg. On the way we will also visit several interesting places and estates, as well as famous Novgorod Detinets.
A cozy cafe called "The House of Koromyslom" was perfect for us to start the day well. Here we could have breakfast with our usual dishes - omelette with pork steak and vegetables, pancakes and pastries.
Before leaving Veliky Novgorod we decided to take a short walk near the walls of the famous Novgorod Kremlin. We walked around most of its monuments and buildings and even managed to walk along the walls looking at the embankment, which offers a beautiful view of the domes of St. Sophia Cathedral.
The next stop on the way to Saint-Petersburg for us was a small but very atmospheric manor H. A. Nekrasov "Chudovskaya Okola". Here this great writer spent a lot of time walking or hunting, resting from the city bustle. There is a bronze monument to him on the estate territory, and the interior decoration is completely recreated on the basis of archives and memories.
After a short tour of the manor, we moved on. We arrived in Tosno in the afternoon, so we decided to stop here for lunch. Café Baffo was the perfect place for us. Italian cuisine is served here in a cozy atmosphere. Having tasted the local pizza, we went further on the road.
On the way to Kirovsk we wanted to walk a little, so we headed for the Sinyavinsk Heights. Here there is a monument to the Soviet soldiers who fought for liberation of this area, the most important for the enemy, during the blockade of Leningrad.
After a long trip and a walk, we wanted to go for dinner to a restaurant called "Noteburg", located near the coast of the Neva. I have to say, it's quite exquisitely cooked here. Among a great variety of delicacies we have found local desserts as well as salads and meat dishes to taste.