KyivKyiv is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It is believed to be founded more than 1500 years ago. The official history is dating back to the year 482. According to the chronicler Nestor three brothers Kyi, Shchek and Khoryv founded the town. Kyiv became the capital of a powerful medieval state Kyivska Rus. During the centuries great princes such as Igor, Svyatoslav and Olga were making the state more powerful. One of the brightest periods in the history of ancient Kyiv was the period of Volodymyr Svyatoslavovych reigning especially when in 998 Christianity in Kyivska Rus was adopted. From the beginning of XIII century Kyiv became one of the most developed cities not only in Kyivska Rus but in Europe too. Nowadays Kyiv is an important industrial, scientific, educational and cultural centre. It is situated in the north part of Ukraine on both banks of the river Dnipro among picturesque hills, parks and plains. The better place to start the excursion from is Khreschatyk Street which is the main street of the city. It is closed to traffic on weekends and full of entertainers and people wandering around. It is almost impossible to pay no attention to the Independence Square or Maidan Nezalezhnosti which is the central square in Kyiv. After pedestrian walk one can use city funicular which joins Mykhailivska square with Podil on the top and with Kontraktova square on the bottom.
Among the oldest architectural sights of town are historico-cultural preserve "Pecherska Lavra" which includes 37 architectural constructions of XI-XIX century, Saint Sophia Cathedral (both are in the list of "World Heritance" UNESCO), Kyrylivska Church, Golden Gates, Vydubychi Monastery, Volodymyrsky Cathedral with VrubePs frescoes, Chimera House opposite to President Palace, Mariinsky Palace, Andriyivskyy Descent (museum, gallery and antique shop in the open air). There is always a wide variety of cultural institutions for the residents of Kyiv and guests of the city: libraries, cinemas, museums, galleries, houses of culture, concert hall "Ukraine", philharmonic, circus. Creative groups of National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet named after T.G. Shevchenko, Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater, Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Theater of Russian Drama are well-known abroad. Kyiv is one of the greenest cities in Ukraine. There are more than 70 parks, 40 boulevards and 180 squares. There are more than 30 higher institutions with about 240 specialties in Kyiv. A lot of sightseeing, picturesque landscapes, developed culture and infrastructure, rich national traditions attract millions of tourists from different countries to visit Kyiv every year. Welcome to Kyiv! |
