- Christian Kiev
- What to visit in Kiev in one day
- Travel to the times of Kievan Rus
Tourists who decide to visit the ancient Slavic city and the modern capital of the Ukrainian state do not ask themselves what to visit in Kiev. They know for sure that there are many places worth a visit in the city: this is one of the most beautiful churches in Eastern Europe - the Cathedral of St. Sophia, and the cozy Khreshchatyk, and the beautiful Dnipro, praised for centuries.
Kiev is a city that, having seen once, is no longer possible to forget, it invites you again and again with green alleys and parks, azure sky and the Dnieper, snow-white temples and domes of churches.
Christian Kiev
Of all the architectural sights of the capital of Ukraine, churches and cathedrals come to the fore, the beauty of which is visible to the naked eye. And this is exactly what you can visit in Kiev on your own, although the guide's story about a particular temple will allow you to learn much more. Among the cult buildings of Kiev, first of all, it is worth highlighting the following: St. Sophia Cathedral; St. Vladimir's Cathedral; the Church of St. Catherine, owned by the Greek Catholics; Nikolaevsky Church, now the House of Organ Music.
Kiev-Pechersk Lavra is another famous temple complex, loved by tourists from different countries. Particularly impressive is the journey through the underground passages of the Lavra, where surprises await at every turn, sometimes quite unexpected, for example, in the form of a pile of human bones, the remains of the ancient inhabitants of the Lavra.
Saint Sophia Cathedral is now more of a museum than a cult institution, although services are also held here. Its construction began in the 11th century by order of Yaroslav the Wise, some works were carried out until the 17th century, six more chapters were added to the existing thirteen domes, the building was stylized as Ukrainian baroque. The cathedral is beautiful both outside and inside. Here you can see ancient icons, ancient mosaics and frescoes made by skilled painters who lived many centuries ago.
What to visit in Kiev in one day
For an independent visit, you can choose not only architectural objects, but also city quarters, streets and squares. Naturally, it is better to start your journey from Khreshchatyk - this is the name of the main tourist street in the Ukrainian capital. It is pedestrianized, which means that all the entertainment on it is exclusively for guests of the city - the work of local artists and artisans, souvenirs, musical performances, circus and animation performances.
Traveling along Khreshchatyk, imperceptibly for himself, the guest of the capital crosses three Kiev squares. The main pedestrian street begins from the European Square, on the way it crosses the Independence Square. In the final, the guests go to Bessarabskaya Square.
Another favorite place for walking is Andreevsky Descent. This street is one of the oldest in Kiev, it connects the so-called Upper Town, the historic center of the capital, with Podil, the area that used to host the largest fairs.
Today, Andriyivskyi Uzviz is also left at the mercy of tourists, it is called a street-museum, since famous Ukrainian cultural figures lived here, various literary, theatrical, and artistic events are held. This place is also famous for its museums. Here you can visit the One Street Museum, which tells about the past and present of Andreevsky Descent, and the Museum of Mikhail Bulgakov, who was born in Kiev and considered this city the best on earth.
Especially good are walks along the Andreevsky Descent on national holidays, when you can fully feel the spirit of the ancient and eternally young city.
Travel to the times of Kievan Rus
Many tourists call a return to the origins a trip to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, a unique temple complex where churches that were built by architects in the 11th century have survived. In total, there are about fourteen churches, a monastery, museums and even an ancient printing house.
Visitors to Kiev are attracted by the architecture of this Orthodox complex and the main shrines - the relics of the clergy and laity. Very often, unique miraculous icons from other Orthodox churches and monasteries of the world are brought to the Lavra.
It is interesting that objects worthy of the attention of travelers are located not only on the surface of the earth, but also in caves that are located at depth. Monks once lived in these underground caves, their remains and relics rest. In Soviet times, a museum was organized here, thousands of tourists traveled through the ancient labyrinths, dreaming of seeing the graves of Pyotr Stolypin or the legendary Ilya Muromets, who found their last refuge here.
Today the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra is under the protection of UNESCO; it acts both as a religious building and as a museum open to the public.
