Saint Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery is a landmark with a long and remarkable history. Originally established in the 12th century, it has stood as a symbol of faith and resilience for centuries. Its iconic golden domes gleam brightly, creating a striking image against the city skyline, particularly when the sun shines down on them.
The monastery faced great hardship during the Soviet era. It was destroyed, and many precious works of art were removed in a hurry. Some of these treasures found their way to museums in Moscow and St. Petersburg, while others were relocated to St. Sophia Cathedral for safekeeping. The journey of these mosaics did not end there—during World War II, some pieces fell into the hands of the Nazis. Eventually, these historical mosaics were returned, but today they are housed at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.
The revival of Saint Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery took place in 1997-98, restoring its beautiful architecture and its place in the city. Today, the shining golden domes are once again a proud feature of the landscape. Behind the monastery complex, visitors will find a peaceful park that offers pleasant views of the Dnieper River. Nearby, to the left, is the entrance to the city's funicular, making it easy to explore more of the area.
Source - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Michael%27s_Golden-Domed_Monastery
Start at Ukrainskykh Heroiv Square and head underground. Walk through the Metrograd shopping center, always sticking to your left. Head above-ground at Tarasa Shevchenka Boulevard (бульвар Тараса Шевченка), from where the council shuts down Khreshchatyk on the weekends. The main drag of the city center is closed to traffic on some weekends and full of entertainers and people wandering around. A big, happy crowd and very conducive to people watching. Walking up the street to Maidan, you will be treated to the sight of numerous street performers and animal handlers, or you can simply enjoy seeing families out and about for a weekend stroll.
The main bell tower of the ancient cave monastery. Built in 1731–1745. It was designed by the architect Johann Gottfried Schädel. Its total height, with the Christian cross, is 96.5 meters. A neoclassic construction with a total of four tiers, surmounted by a gilded dome. The diameter of the tower's lowest tier at its base is 28.8 m, and the thickness of the first tier walls is 8m. The tower's foundations exceed 7m meters. The tower is decorated with many architectural columns: the second tier with 32 Dorian columns, the third with 16 Ionic columns, and the fourth with 8 Corinthian columns. On the fourth tier there is a chiming clock, made in 1903, which has a total weight of 4.5 tonne.
The perfect place for a stroll in any season. There are unique floristic complexes on 130 hectares: "Forests of the plain part of Ukraine", "Ukrainian Carpathians", "Steppes of Ukraine", "Crimea", "Caucasus", "Central Asia", the "Altai and Western Siberia", "Far East".
Covering 160 ha, the area shows how people used to live in different parts of Ukraine. Six restored rural Ukrainian villages, with old huts, wooden mills and churches from all over Ukraine have been carefully restored and function as living museums. English-speaking (sort of) guides with expertise on the whole site are available and well worth-it. Ukrainians come on sunny days to relax in the grass.
The oldest remaining church in Kyiv. Parts date from the 11th century. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has the world biggest ensemble of frescoes and mosaics dating from the 11th century, including the Virgin Orans mosaic. Several green-robed ladies maintain order and will shout at you if you look like you are planning to take a photo. The gatehouse and other restorations were completed in the 17th century. Outside the gates, there is a statue commemorating hetman Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, who liberated Kyiv in the 17th century... then gave the city to the Russian Empire.
Relics of 49 saints, accompanied by plates with names and icons. The total length of underground corridors is 293 m. There are three underground cave churches: Annunciation, Nativity and Reverend Theodosius.
A fascinating and moving museum. No signage in English. The cost of audio-tour in English or German - 50 грн.
Seven domed Ukrainian Orthodox brick cathedral in neo-Byzantine style, built in the 19th century. It barely escaped demolition by the Soviet authorities. Dome height (outer) 49 m (161 ft).
The legendary Andriyivsky Descent was the street where the great writer lived with his family and where he "lodged" the heroes of his immortal novel "The White Guard".
Berestovo was a suburban residence in the 11th century. - Its vaulting may have been unusually complicated, probably echoing the trefoil roofing of the porches. The outside of the church formerly displayed intricate brick patterns: double and treble niches, the meander, and decorative crosses.
Museum represents different times from ancient till nowadays.
Official ceremonial residence of the President of Ukraine in Kyiv. It is a Baroque palace on the hilly bank of the Dnipro River.
This built in 1976. It is a cable-stayed bridge, designed by the architect A.V. Dobrovolsky and an engineer by G.B.Fux, with the beam of the main span being held by a cluster of steel ropes which are fixed to a 115 m tall A-pylon. The bridge consists of two spans: one is 816 m long and 31.4 m wide span across the Dnieper and another which is 732 m long, 29.1 m wide and span across the Desyonka, what is a Dnieper tributary. It is a key structure on the northern end of the Kyiv Smaller Beltway, connecting Petrivka to the densely-populated north-eastern residential neighborhoods. The bridge was built as a part of a high-speed freeway.
22.5 hectares, with 8,000 plant species. The garden is famous for its exotic plants. Building of greenhouse, which was built for the largest and the oldest palm trees in Northern Eurasia, long time had been considered one of the highest in the world. In 1935, the garden was named after the academician A.V. Fomin, who directed the garden for years.
Stroll around. Start at St Michael's Cathedral in the Upper Town. Catch the funicular behind it down to Poshtova Ploscha, and wander around the grid-like streets of Podil. The area was the merchant's quarter, and was completely rebuilt in the 19th century after fires destroyed the area. It was mainly untouched during WWII and is emerging as a hip restaurant district and is rapidly being gentrified. Walk along the Sahaidachnoho street. Finish your stroll by walking up Andriyivsky Uzviz, which will get you back to St Michael's Cathedral.
A 385-m-high (1,263 ft) lattice steel tower built in 1973. It is not accessible for tourists. The operational platform is at 200 m.
Independence Square or Maidan is the place where opposition to pro-Russian governments gathered at different points between 2004 and 2013. This is a central meeting place in Kyiv.
Motto in English: "Time is running, Academy is eternal". The library of the old Kyiv Mohyla Academy contained a notable collection of the books. However, the archive was plundered in the 1920s when the academy was closed. - The Halshka Hulevychivna house belonging to the university is the oldest civil building in Kyiv.