A bustling, cosmopolitan city of about five million people, St. Petersburg enchants the visitor with its graceful European architecture, vibrant cultural life, and rich history. Internationally celebrated art collections, world-renowned theaters, splendid 18th and 19th century imperial palaces and parks, iridescent waterways straddled by over 300 bridges, and numerous additional attractions will astonish even the most seasoned traveler exploring Russia’s Northern Capital.
Russian-language excursions in and around St. Petersburg are organized for Flagship participants in coordination with their academic program at the university. As learning activities that extend and enhance work done in the classroom, excursions contribute to steady language progress and provide students with uniquely rewarding opportunities to learn more about Russian history and culture. In the fall semester, excursions are a component of the “Language and Culture” course and feature visits to sites associated with Russian history prior to the twentieth century. In the spring semester, excursions complement treatment of program thematic units in the core language courses. Below are some examples of past excursions:
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Russian Museum, Medieval Art Collection
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Catherine the Great Palace in Tsarskoe Selo (Pushkin), St. Petersburg’s suburb
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Kirov Museum, Soviet Childhood Exhibit
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St. Petersburg places of worship: Buddhist, Jewish, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
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Performance of Chekhov’s “Seagull” at the St. Petersburg State Theatre Arts Academy
In addition to academically oriented excursions, other special events of a more informal nature provide students with opportunities to learn more about Russia and Saint Petersburg, to meet native Russian speakers, and to relax in a culturally and linguistically beneficial fashion. At the beginning of the academic year, students get their bearings by means of walking tours in the St. Petersburg city center and on the grounds of the university. Students can socialize with native Russian speakers at the Russian-American Discussion Club and at get-togethers co-sponsored by the American Councils Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX). The Flagship community gathers to celebrate American Thanksgiving and Russian Maslenitsa. Leisure outings include visits to the sumptuous palaces and parks of suburban St. Petersburg, a tour of the Baltika Beer brewery, and a cruise through the waterways of the “Venice of the North.”
Please click this link to view a beautifully designed online city guide featuring artful photo and video galleries, 360 degree panoramas, a virtual city tour (pick "Sightseeing"), a searchable dining guide, illustrated overviews of the city's tourist attractions, history, and culture, and more.
