 | Tour of the Novodevichy Monastery. Founded in 1524 by Grand Prince Vasili Ioanovich, the original convent was enclosed by fortified walls and contained 12 towers. The structure served as a convent for ladies of noble birth and was host to many famous Russian personages throughout its history including Boris Gudonov and Peter the Great’s elder sister Princess Sophia (who was banished there in 1679 by her brother). The tour will take you to Preobrazhenskaya Church (the Church of the Transfiguration), the outstanding Smolensky Sobor (Smolensk Cathedral) and the Novodevichy cemetery in which many notable people are buried including Chekov, Gogol and Stalin’s wife Nadezhda Alliluyeva |