Virtual Tours

This live-streamed, virtual tour will take place mostly in the former apartment of Anna Akhmatova, located in a wing of the famous palace known as the “Fountain House.” Here she lived for nearly 30 years and became the foremost chronicler of suffering and hardship during the Repression and World War II. The emotionally moving museum contains the poet’s artifacts and original furniture and some manuscripts. There are also thematic installations that trace Akhmatova’s life. Dependent on timing, we will also make a brief visit to the Akhmatova monument which, per her wish in the epilogue of Requiem, looks across the Neva river toward the Kresty prison where her son was imprisoned. Closed Mondays. T, Th, F, S, S until 6pm, Weds until 8pm. To see the monument and prison, this excursion needs to take place during daylight hours in St. Petersburg.

NOTE: other potential places for a longer, more in-depth tour include Summer Gardens, Stray Dog cafe and dacha and gravesite in the suburbs.

This walking virtual tour blends scenes from Bulgakov’s masterpiece The Master and Margarita with other sites relevant to the author’s life. Scenes from the novel include the “Aquarium” garden in the courtyard of the Mossovyet Theater (chapters 10, 12, 14), Patriarchy Ponds (where the novel began), and Morozov’s Estate (one of Margarita’s supposed homes). Time permitting, we will pass several apartments of relevance to Bulgakov. We will begin or end at the Bulgakov museum, (briefly noting the famous graffiti in the staircase) at Apartment No. 50, where the author lived and which served as the setting for The Master and Margarita. In English. This must take place during daylight hours in Moscow.

Virtually visit the Moscow Art Theater, where The Cherry Orchard and many of Chekhov’s other plays were first staged. We will speak to a Russian theater historian there and explore the theater’s small museum. In Russian with English interpreting.

This museum is located in a simple flat of an ordinary Saint Petersburg building where Dostoevsky rented an apartment twice: in 1846 and from 1878 until the last days of his life, thus linking the beginning and end of his career. The memorial apartment was recreated based mostly on memoirs of his wife and contemporaries.  The apartment museum showcases considerable original furniture and memorabilia related to his work – most notable is the study. It was here where Dostoyevsky wrote his last novel, Brothers Karamazov.  From old photographs to the smallest household item — everything is reminiscent of the emotionally charged and slightly sinister mood of Dostoevsky novels, offering a deep insight into human psychology. Closed Mondays. T, Th, F, S, S until 6pm, Weds until 8pm.

This walking virtual tour takes place on the Streets of St. Petersburg. Behind the palatial facades and on the side streets is the Petersburg of Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment. Trace Raskolnikov’s footsteps and visit sites from Crime and Punishment and Dostoyevsky’s life. From haymarket square to the pawnbroker’s apartment, a courtyard of typical tenant houses, the police station and more in between – his excursion will help you imagine the city that influenced Dostoyevsky’s work. You’ll see several of the locations where Dostoyevsky rented apartments (there are 19 in total), including the one from which he wrote Crime and Punishment. During the tour you’ll hear more about Dostoyevsky’s life in St. Petersburg and how his writing was influenced by the city. Time permitting we will also visit the location of the seven bridges, relevant to Dostoyevsky’s work White Nights from his early career. Must be scheduled during daylight hours in St. Petersburg. 

This walking virtual tour takes place on the streets of St. Petersburg. Although Nikolay Gogol lived in the city only 8 years, it had a great influence on him as seen throughout his works and the characters in them. We’ll start out at the Monument of Gogol and walk along Nevsky Prospect, ever present in Gogol’s writing. Along the way we’ll stop at the Alexandrinsky theater where Gogol himself was involved in the rehearsal of The Inspector General and found inspiration for some of his other ideas. See the building on Canal Griboyedova where Gogol lived and wrote the Diary of a Madman. See the famous bridge of The Overcoat and of course, no excursion would be complete without seeing the monument to Major Kovalev’s nose. Because some sites are rather spread out across the city, you’ll also have the opportunity to take a virtual tram ride during the tour. In English. This must be scheduled during daylight hours in St. Petersburg.

In this virutal tour we blend a virtual visit to Pasaternak’s museum dacha in Peredelkino with a live visit to the streets in Moscow that served as settings for the novel.

Visit the last home of Russia’s most celebrated poet, Alexander Pushkin. The apartment, located on the embankment of the Moika is just minutes from the Hermitage and Nevsky prospect and was carefully preserved after his death, thus a fine example of a noble’s residence in the 1830’s. 

Among the 12 halls is Pushkin’s study where original manuscripts are on display along with a number of personal items. It was here in this apartment where Pushkin died after his famous duel. Time permitting, we’ll also make a short visit to the Statue of the Bronze Horseman (daylight required). Wednesday-Monday until 6pm. Tuesdays closed.

Note: Additional excursions such as the Lyceum in Pushkin and Pushkin’s dacha may also be available. Inquire for more information.

This walking virtual tour takes place on the streets of St. Petersburg and will take you to some of the relevant sites of St. Petersburg’s revered literary hero. You’ll see places such as the statue of the Bronze Horseman, the Summer Gardens and the Mikhailovsky castle – all settings or topics of various Pushkin works.  See the Literature Cafe (formerly Cafe Wolfe & Berange), a place frequented by Pushkin and other literary elites of the time and where he was right before heading to his fateful duel. We’ll get a glimpse of the grandeur of noble life from the courtyard of his memorial apartment and stop by the monument erected in his honor in Arts Square. These and other stops will give you an idea of both the poet’s life and his legacy in the city. Must be scheduled during daylight hours in St. Petersburg. 

We will walk through the Yasnaya Polyana estate, where Tolstoy wrote Anna Karenina and War and Peace.