Excursion tour «Evenings on a farm near Dikanka» from the travel company «Etnotour»

1 day, Saturday

• 07:00 - Departure from Kiev by bus. It is impossible to drive past this monastery, which can be seen from afar. And so the first stop is here. The Mgarsky Monastery is a masterpiece of the Mazepa Baroque, which has always played an important role in the spiritual life of Ukraine. Together with the monks, you can have tea or lunch in the refectory, and in the monastery shop you can buy products grown in the monastery garden.
• Moving to Mirgorod - a famous balneological resort. Nikolai Gogol wrote a lot about the inhabitants of this city. You can meet the heroes of his works in the resort park on the river. Horol. And, of course, take the healing "Mirgorod" water, which is recommended for the treatment of diseases of the digestive system.
• Moving to Reshetilovka - a city famous for its white-on-white embroidery. The works of folk craftsmen fascinate with their sophistication, enchant the soul and eyes of everyone who sees embroidered shirts, carpets, tapestries, paintings. There is a museum of embroidery and weaving, where the museum staff conduct master classes on making tapestries.
• Moving to the village. Abazovka. There is a private ethno-museum of beer and moonshine. Those who wish will be able to listen to an excursion about the history of moonshine and get acquainted with the interesting exhibits of the museum (the cost of a tour of the museum is 75 UAH, for children under 18 years old - free of charge). The price includes a tasting of moonshine (50 grams of moonshine and canapes with bacon and cucumber).
• After that - a delicious lunch with Poltava dumplings (on your own).
• Moving to Poltava. Accommodation at the hotel.
• The ancient city of Poltava appeared in the 9th century, and in the Ipatiev Chronicle it is mentioned in 1174 as the town of Ltava. During the liberation struggle of Khmelnitsky, this was the center of the Poltava regiment, and during the Northern War between Russia and Sweden, Poltava became the site of the main battle between them. The city is also known for the fact that it was here that Ivan Kotlyarevsky was born and wrote «Aeneid», that Gogol and Shevchenko lived. You can learn about all this and a little more on a sightseeing tour of the city.
• Free time.
• For those who wish - a master class on sculpting Poltava dumplings (paid additionally - 75 UAH per person).

Day 2, Sunday

• 08:30 - Breakfast, check out from the hotel.
• In the village of Bolshie Budishcha, local residents have created a unique museum. This is a museum of Ukrainian wedding, where guests can take part in a wedding ceremony, where they will sing wedding songs and will be presented with a pine cone from a loaf as a keepsake.
• After that, you will head to Dikanka, a famous place that Gogol glorified in his work «Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka». From the 17th century. here was the ancestral nest of the Kochubeis, now in its place is a landscape park, which you will visit. Nearby is the Nicholas Church of the 18th century. - family tomb of the family. The hallmark of Dikanka is the Triumphal Arch, built in honor of the visit of Tsar Alexander I, as well as four 800-year-old Kochubei oaks.
• Lunch at a local restaurant.
• Opishnya is the pottery capital of Ukraine. Since 2001, the National Museum-Reserve of Ukrainian Pottery has existed here. Works of all national schools of art ceramics are presented in Opishnya. In the courtyard of the museum is the Goncharsky ethnopark, which presents incredible works of various sizes and shapes, made by artists from different cities of Ukraine. There are no less interesting exhibits in the museum itself, where you can view a unique photo exhibition of the late 19th century, get acquainted with the collection of decorative plates and even make your own clay creation. It is an incomparable sensation when a piece of clay comes to life under the fingers and turns into a product.
• Travel to Gogol's places. The village of Gogolevo, where the writer spent his childhood and youth. The manor itself burned down during the Second World War. The museum was reconstructed based on photographs, drawings, letters and memoirs of contemporaries. The parental house with an outbuilding and Gogol's office was restored. Also preserved are ponds, a romantic grotto and a garden, where it is pleasant to walk and enjoy the atmosphere of this wonderful place.
• Departure to Kiev.