Last day in Russia. What better way to finish the holiday than visiting Sergiev Posad as a last stop, before driving to Domodedovo airport and handing back the trusty Hyundi Solaris?

Lovely sunshine and the HUGE 14thC Monastery of the Holy Trinity Lavra of St Sergius was sparkling in all its splendour. One of the most renowned in Russia.

The spires and domes you see in this photo are of Trinity Chapel, The Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, The Church of St Nikon, Dormition Cathedral and Assumption Cathedral.

The monastery was founded by Sergius of Radonezh and his brother, who wanted to establish a simple chapel to begin lives of ascetic seclusion in the forest wilderness the Makovets hills north of Moscow. Other ascetics came to visit and started building cells nearby….in 1355 plans were developed for the monastery, increasingly with the support of princes from Moscow. In time, tradition became for Moscow royalty to be baptized in the Cathedral, built in the 15thC.

Walking back to the car, saw some cute kids swinging after a wedding ceremony.

That’s it! From Russia with love……