Sergiev Posad is a Russian town located in about 70 km from Moscow. Founded in the 14th century by Saint Sergius of Radonezh, the town has many historical places to see and visit.
Sergiev Posad Attractions
The most important sight of Sergiev Posad is the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, enlisted in the UNESCO's World Heritage List. Other attractions include Sergiev Posad State Museum of History and Art and the Museum of Toys.
The Trinity Cathedral (1422-1423)
This beautiful church is the heart of the Trinity monastery and to some extent the heart of the Russian Orthodoxy. A memorial service for St. Sergius (whose tomb stands in the south-east corner) goes on all day, every day, lit only by oil lamps. Andrey Rublyov, the great medieval painter, created most of the icons, though Rublyov's masterpiece icon of the Old Testament Trinity is a copy, while the original one is in Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. 
The Cathedral of the Assumption (1558-1585)
The Cathedral with its star-spangled domes was designed in accordance with the cathedral of Assumption in Moscow Kremlin. It was finished in 1585. Services are held here in summer. Outside the western door there is the grave of Boris Godunov, the only tsar buried neither in Moscow Kremlin nor in St. Peter & Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg. Nearby, the resplendent Chapel-at-the-Well (Nadkladeznaya chasovnya) was built.
The Refectory Church of St. Sergius
The huge block with the 'wallpaper' paint job and lavish interior was once a dining hall for pilgrims. Now it is the winter counterpart of the Assumption Cathedral, with morning services in cold weather.
The Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit
This little 15th century church (Dukhovskaya tserkov), with the bell tower under its dome, is a graceful imitation of the Trinity Cathedral. It is used only on special occasions. Innocent of Alaska, the first Orthodox bishop and archbishop in Americas, is buried in this church.
Treasury of Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius
The Treasury of the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is located along the western wall of the monastery just behind the Trinity Cathedral. During centuries, the Monastery has obtained a number of unique items, which are now exhibited in the Treasury. Russian Tzars, including Ivan IV the Terrible, presented many of them. The collection of the Treasury includes icons, religious utensils and the church applied art of the 14th-19th Centuries. In the halls of the Treasury one can observe golden and silver chalices, communion cups, panagias (a small icon on the chest), church robes, crosses, ancient Bibles and huge (about 1.5 meters high) silver candle holders.
Tickets to the Treasury are sold in the ticket booth opposite the entrance. However, it happens quite often when the Treasury is closed, as there is a tourist group on a sightseeing tour inside. That is why it is recommended to book a guided tour in advance.
Chernigovsky skete
Founded in 1844, this quiet and picturesque skete is located in 3.5 km to the northeast from the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. Two notable Russian philosophers and writers, Vasily Rosanov and Konstantin Leontiev, are resting in peace in the necropolis of Chernigovsky skete.
