TOP PLACES

TOP PLACES: Kyiv-Cave Monastery Pecherska LavraKyiv’s oldest and most revered holy site—and one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the world for Orthodox Christians—the Kyiv-Cave Monastery spans a huge labyrinth of churches, museums, souvenir shops, gardens, and functioning monastery buildings. First mentioned in chronicles in 1051, the  monastery can be viewed in two parts: the churches, bell tower, and museums are all on top of a hill, while the caves are below. Admission to the monastery includes access to the grounds and churches, but the museums and caves cost extra. Upper Grounds. Most of the monastery’s sights are located on the top of the hill and accessed from the main entrance. The 12th-century Holy Trinity Gate contains some beautiful frescoes, a 600kg censer, and the ruins of an ancient church. Step into the operating Refectory Church, home to one of the largest and most decorated domes in the complex. The 18th-century Great Lavra Bell Tower, currently undergoing renovations, offers fantastic views of the river and the golden domes. The Museum of Historical Treasures of Ukraine displays precious stones and metals. The incongruous Micro-Miniature Exhibit contains amazingly small books, chess sets, and other oddities. Caves . Monks once lived here in isolation, receiving nothing but food from the outside world. When they died, they were wrapped in cloth, and left in the caves, where the cool air caused their bodies to mummify. Without a guided tour you may view only a 15m section of the caves. All visitors must buy a candle (1hv) and carry it with them. Monks lead the tours, which have a religious tone. Women must wear headscarves and long skirts (both available at the monastery); men must wear long pants and remove their hats.   St. Sofia Monastery Complex.The monastery, established in the 11th century, served as the religious and cultural center of Kyivan Rus. The site became a national reserve in 1934, and includes history and architecture museums. The oldest church in the city, St. Sophia’s Cathedral, is a magnificent 11 th century structure of brilliant aesthetic virtue. The Virgin Orans mosaic is also housed on this site. The St. Sofia Cathedral still retains impressive golden domes and has a magnificent 260 sq. m of mosaics; some additional mosaics, along with drawings and design plans, are on display in the architecture museum. The St. Sofia bell tower, 76m above the entrance gate, has an impressive view over central Kyiv. A statue of Bohdan Khmelnytsky (Ukrainian national hero, who was responsible for Kiev’s liberation in the late 17 th century)  stands near the entrance.    Myhaylivskyy Zolotoverkhyy Monastyr. This 11th-century monastery was destroyed in 1934 to make way for a government square, the plans for which never materialized. After 60 years as a sports center, the current blue-and-gold-domed monastery was reconstructed in the 1990s. Monks wander the grounds, and visitors are free to stop and talk to them, if their language skills are up to it. (At the top of Mykhaylivska pl. Open daily 7am-8pm. Free.) A museum in the bell tower leads to the chamber of the bells. The bells ring every 15min., and the carillon plays every hour during the day.   Andrew’S Rise And and St. Andrew’s ChurchAndrew’S Rise (Andriyivskyy Uzviz). Andrew’s Rise is Kyiv’s most touristed area. Though vendors hawking jewelry, clothing, and other trinkets crowd the sidewalks, the area retains its old, authentic feel thanks to the steep, winding cobblestone streets, historical buildings, and outdoor cafes. From Mykhaylivska Sq., walk down Desyatynna to get to the top of Andriyivskyy Uzviz. There you’ll see St. Andrew’s Church, conceived by Empress Elizabeth Petrovna in the 18th century and designed by her favorite architect, Italian Bartolomeo Rastrelli. Renovated in the 1970s according to Rastrelli’s original plans, the church overlooks the center of Kyiv and the Dniper River. Down Andriyivskyy Uzviz 100m, steep wooden stairs lead to a great view of Podil, Kyiv’s oldest district. Farther down are writer Mikhail Bulgakov’s house (Andriyivskyy uzviz 13) and the  Museum of One Street.   Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) is the central square of Kiev. One of the main city squares, it is located on the Khreschatyk Street. The square was known under many different names but it became prominent as simply the Maidan due to the political events of great significance that took place there in the recent years after the Ukrainian accession to independence. Khreshchatyk Street.The people-watching capital of the nation, Kyiv centers on this broad commercial avenue. The houses along Khreshchatyk were destroyed during the Nazi occupation in 1941 and rebuilt during the Soviet era, for better or worse, in distinctive Soviet style. Khreshchatyk is now a place to see and be seen, where amateur fashionistas promenade past students playing guitar on the sidewalks. Beer-drinking Kievans crowd these sidewalks in the evenings, or take to the streets when they’re closed to traffic on weekends and holidays. An archway leads to the Passage, one of Kyiv’s most fashionable areas, home to high-priced cafes and bars.   The House with Chimeras is the most famous and ridiculous mansion in Kiev. And it is almost impossible to visit it.  The address of House with Chimeras is 10, Bankova Street. The Reception Hall of President of Ukraine is located there. The summits are held in the stylish cabinet of the former owner of the building. The great Kievan architect Vladislav Gorodetsky lived there. But you have a wonderful opportunity to visit one of the main attractions of Kiev!   Mariinsky Park and Palace. Walk through Mariinsky Park towards the Mariinsky Palace, a creature by architect B. Rastrelli (today a residence of President of Ukraine), and you will be taken for a while to Baroque epoch to be brought back by buildings of Parliament and Cabinet of Ministers.    The River Dnipro has been the symbol of Kiev from the moment of its foundation. Long ago here used to be wild woods, where animals lived. Here landed Oleg’s boat when returning from far journeys. From the hills above the river pagan idols were thrown during the Baptism of the Kiev inhabitants. At the high tops temples were being built.   Nowadays, there are many parks from Volodymyr Hill up to Lysa (Bald) Hill - Merchants’, Khreschatyj, City, Mariinsky, Askold Tomb etc. The youngest is Lysogirsky (Bald Hill) park – founded to commemorate the 1500-years anniversary of Kiev. It has become the 67th park of Kiev.   You have a wonderful opportunity to stroll along the Dnipro river on the ship.   Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural   Ukraine is dotted with 'open-air' museums like this, full of life-size models of different rustic buildings. However, the Pyrohovo Museum of Folk Architecture, 12km south of Kyiv, is one of the most fun and best maintained. It is one of the biggest museums in Europe. Two things make it stand out. Firstly, the quaint 17th- to 20th-century wooden churches, cottages, farmsteads and windmills are divided into seven 'villages' representing regional areas of Ukraine. So in just one long afternoon you can journey from the architecture of eastern to western to southern Ukraine. Secondly, in summer, workers enact different village roles, carving wood, pottering, doing embroidery and driving horses and carts. There are restaurants, pubs and stalls selling barbecued shashlyk . The place is perfect for kids. Arsonists claimed three of the old dwellings in 2006, but the character of the museum remains intact. Throughout the year Pyrohovo hosts various festivals - the biggest is during the countrywide Ivana Kupala festival. Ukrainian musicians play at weekends.   The best places to eat! Of course we recommend you to start with Ukrainian restaurants. Puzata Khata Best Ukrainian fast food, very tasty and very cheap. Also offering delivering lunches to your office. Avoid going around one o'clock on weekdays, it's packed. Definitely try either the Solyanka or Borsch soup. Sinoval Varenychna  Pancakes, vareniky and other Ukrainian specials. And they have a little pig living there! Shchekavytsya Ukrainian cuisine in a genuinely Ukrainian interior. Home-made vodka (samogon) on demand and paid separately with the tips. Very nice service. Expect high prices. Visit also the Belvedere restaurant (International cuisine), restaurants on the Dnepre river and out-of-town restaurants on Obuhovskaya route.   Kiev nightlife   Some come to Kiev to visit the ancient domes of St. Sophia's Cathedral, others to pay their homage at the sacred Caves Monastery. Still more come to visit Independence Square and the heart of the Orange Revolution or to enjoy the pedestrian bustle of Kreshatyk Street. However, of all the many fine reasons to visit Kiev, there can't be many finer than to sample the legendary Kiev nightlife!   The best and most popular nightclubs in Kiev are Arena, Shooters, Decadence and Buddha Bar.   Kiev Metro (Underground)   Location: three metro lines are located under the whole city, on both banks of the river Dnipro.The Kiev Metro is everything you would want a metro to be. The Kiev Metro is convenient, cheap, fast and reliable. It is open from 6:00 am to 12:00 Midnight. It is very noisy, dirty and very smelly with body odor in the summer but is an experience you should not miss.