Excursion
1
|
 Saint Sophia’s Cathedral was founded by Grand
Prince Yaroslav the Wise in 1017 to commemorate his victory in battle over the
Pecheneg tribe. This impressive cathedral, dedicated to Divine Wisdom is famous
for its unique 11th century mosaics and frescoes. St. Sophia’s Cathedral and the
related monastery buildings were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in
1990.
|
 St . Michael's Monastery of the Golden Domes
was built in 1108 -1113 by Prince Svyatopolk Izyaslavovich. It is famous for
its frescoes and mosaics as well as for preserving the relics of St. Varvara.
Unfortunately this masterpiece of architecture was destroyed in 1936 because of
the Soviet Union's plans to build a huge governmental center in its place. The
reconstruction of the Monastery was completed in 2000.
|
 Andriyevsky Uzviz (St. Andrews Decent) with its
open air market is called Kiev's Montmartre. This is the best place to buy
souvenirs“matryoshka” dolls, embroidered shirts, ceramics, jewelry with
semi-precious stones, uniforms, medals, coins and other memorabilia of the
Soviet Union. On public holidays folk craftsmen gather from all over Ukraine to
sell their craftwork, and concerts, shows and medieval displays are held.
Overlooking St Andrews Descent is the famous castle hill where as the legend
goes, St Andrew placed a cross in the ground and pronounced that one day here
will stand a great city. In the time of the ancient Kievan Rus empire there was
a pagan worship ground here, where stood a statue of the main God in the Russian
pantheon Perun. During the reign of Prince Vladimir they were destroyed. Today
it is a great place to take walk with views over the whole of Kyiv.
|
 St. Andrews Church was built in 1747-1762 by
order of the Russian Empress Elizabeth. She laid the foundation stone of the
church herself. The famous Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelly supervised the
construction. The church's elegant silhouette on Andriyivsky Hill rises high
into the sky above Andriyivsky Descent, Podil and the Dnepr Valley. Numerous
concerts are held here of classical and medieval music.
|
 The museum of M. Bulgakov is located at
Andriyivsky descent №13. The famous Ukrainian-born Russian author M. A. Bulgakov
lived in this house from 1906 up to 1919 with his parents. The novels "The
Master and Margarita", “The White Guard” and “The Dog's Heart” brought world
fame to the writer. Here, in this house, Bulgakov placed the characters of his
novel "The White Guard" and his play "Days of the Turbins".
|
Excursion
2 |
|
The
National History Museum holds Ukrainian artifacts dating from ancient
times to the present day: national costumes, earthenware, tools , armor, musical
instruments etc… the most interesting display is of ornaments made from Scythian
gold.
|
|
Excursion
3
|
 The House with Chimeras (Hunting house) is one
of the most interesting buildings in Kyiv located in a quiet part of downtown,
opposite the Presidential House. The well-known architect Horodetsky built this
house as a private residence in 1902 - 1903. The walls and the roof of the
building are decorated with intricate sculptures based on mythological and
hunting themes. The building is considered to be one of the most fascinating in
Kiev.
|
 Mariinskiy (Tsar's) palace was built in 1748 -
1752 as a residence for Russian monarchs. The architect Michurin designed it in
the baroque style and in the style of the Empress Elizabeth's favourite
architect B.Rastrelli, famous for his structures in St. Petersburg (including
the Winter Palace). The Mariinskiy Palace was intended to copy Versailles in
miniature. Today, the Palace is the official residence of the President of
Ukraine for state functions. Twice a week it is open to the public. In the
palace grounds is a beautiful park with a special bus that tours the park
grounds.
|
 Devils Bridge or Lovers Bridge is situated 50m above a narrow
road. According to Legend during the civil war a schoolgirl jumped to her death
because her lover was killed in battle.
|
 Vladimir's Hill Park boasts a bronze statue of
Prince Vladimir the Baptizer erected in 1853, and has a great viewpoint over
Kyiv. The statue faces the River Dnepr where the people of ancient Kievan Rus
were baptized by the Prince’s order.
|
 The Friendship Arc was constructed to
commemorate friendship and cooperation between Ukraine and Russia in 1985. It's
located in the wonderful Mariinskiy Park on the hills overlooking the River
Dnepr
|
 Independence Square – The central square of
Kyiv where the events of the orange revolution took place.
|
|
Excursion
4
|
|
|
|
Excursion
5
|
 The monastery Kiev-Pechersk Lavra is a
first-rate religious and cultural center. The title “Lavra” is given by the
Orthodox church to large monasteries of great religious importance. Founded in
1051 by the monk Antoniy, this working monastery is famous for its caves with
holy relics. Located amongst spectacular hills, the monastery has several
wonderful view points as well as some interesting museums: museum of miniatures,
museum of historical valuables of Ukraine, museum of antique folk instruments…
Historically Kiev-Pechersk Lavra was the main trade centre for the whole of the
ancient Kievan-Rus kingdom.
|
Ivan Honchar Museum (Ukrainian centre of folk
culture) “Ivan Honchar Museum” aims at combining purely museum work with
revitalizing cultural and art traditions of the Ukrainian people. The museum is
planning to set up a children's folk art school, restoration shops, art studios,
a folk art lab with the purpose of maintaining and developing the best
Ukrainian folk and fine art traditions.
|
Excursion
6 |
 The Vydubychy Monastery of St.Michael, located
in the territory of the Botanical garden, is an example of Ukrainian traditional
Baroque style. The Necropolis contains the tombs of some distinguished people of
the past. There are spectacular views of the Botanical garden and the left bank
of the River Dnepr.
|
Excursion
7 |
 The
Museum of the Second World War. The museum was opened on 9th May 1981.
The complex occupies 20 hectares and consists of the Museum building, the
Motherland statue (62 meters high), the Eternal Flame (16m in diameter) and an
outdoor exhibition of the armored vehicles from World War II. There are lots of
classic Soviet-era memorials as well as some amazing exhibits of military
hardware. The main display is located within an area of 5,000 sq. m and has more
than 12,000 items including original letters, newspapers, documents, orders,
medals, etc.
|
|
Excursion
8
|
Day
trip to Chernigiv
– a town 140km from Kyiv that is famous for it’s great
number of historical and architectural relics from the 11-12th and
17-19th centuries. Many of them are would famous monuments and show the
importance of Chernigiv in the forming of Kyiv Rus as the first state.
Modern day Chernigiv is situated in a picturesque setting beside the
river Desna with green parks overlooking snow white churches with
golden domes, beautiful museums, and 12 guns that were a gift to
the town from Peter the Great. Chernigiv’s modern architecture
fits in amazingly well with it’s ancient monuments.
Boat trips depart regularly along the river.
|
Excursion
9
|
 Day
trip to Chernobyl- the site of one of the worlds worst nuclear disasters.
Visit the ghost town pripyat, the sarcophagus constructed around the reactor,
meet with some remaining and recently returned locals in a nearby village and
visit the graveyard of military machines.
|
Excursion
10 |
|
General tour of Kyiv by car.
|
All excursions cost €40 for half a day and €80 for a full
day. Price doesn’t include transport costs and entrance fees.
English speaking Guide.
|
