Since that day when the unknown photographer has made the first picture of the Kiev street, have passed centuries. And though 100 years in the biography of ancient Kiev only the short instant - how many changes has taken place for this time.  

GOLDEN GATE 

Address: 40A, Vladimirskaya str.    
Tel: 2247068.    
Open: from May till October    
Hours: 10am - 5pm   

1017-1024, is located just outside the subway station of the same name.  
Of the few remaining fortifications from the times of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (1019-1054), the Golden Gate is the most remarkable. IN 1983 the ruins of the Golden Gate, built as a defensive structure, were restored to their present condition. The same year, the Golden Gate Museum was opened. The ground floor contains exhibits relating to the history of old Kiev. The halls display armaments used by the ancient Kievites and other excavations from the site of the Golden Gate. The balconies of the museum offer a panoramic view of Kiev.  

THE PECHERSK LAVRA MONASTERY 

The Pechersk Lavra Monastery (Pechersk stands for pechery, that is caves which are to be found in its territory and which early monks used to live in, and Lavra is an honorific title given to a monastery of extra-size and religious importance) came into being in the eleventh century and for nine centuries its territory was expanding with new buildings being added to it through the centuries. The architectural complex of the Monastery the way it looks today is truly grandiose. On a sunny day one is almost dazzled by the reflections from the innumerable golden domes above churches and belfries. Most of the buildings in the Monastery date from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and are excellent examples of Ukrainian Baroque style in architecture and there is only one church in the Monastery that has been preserved from the twelfth century with very few architectural changes introduced since then. The church sits above the main entrance gate of the Monastery and is consequently called Nadvratna the one above the gate. The full name of the church is Troitska Nadvratna Tserkva The Holy Trinity Church above the Gate. It is almost a miracle it has survived as the Monastery itself was throughout its history the object of so many enemy attacks, of devastating fires and of other crippling misfortunes. 

ST.ANDREW'S CHURCH 

 
Andreevsky Uzviz, at No.23 
Tel: 2285861 

Elegantly outlined against Kiev`s skyline at the top of Andreevsky Uzviz, at No.23, stands St. Andrew Cathedral.  
Designed in 1754 by the Italian architect Bartholomew Rastrelli, it is one of the few buildings to have survived intact with no reconstruction. The interior of the building is now closed for remodeling.  

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KRESHCHATYK STREET 

Khreshchatyk is the central street of the city of Kyiv. It crosses the Starokyivsky and Pechersk administrative parts of the city connecting European and Bessarab Squares. 
The area of what is now makes Khreshchatyk used to be a great valley with a tiny creek in it. From the North East the valley reached the Dnipro   River and from the South East it went to the Lybid River . This area has been called on the plans as Khreshchatyk Valley so nowadays modern street has got its name from the old days. The creek was going by the very important trade road. In the end of the eighteenth century the part of the road from the Kinna Square, where horse markets used to take place (nowadays European Square), to Prorisana street started transforming into the street with buildings mostly on its right side. Then it became  Khreshchatyk . In 1803 the buildings appeared on the left side of the road too. All of those buildings were  private dwellings except for the one – the very first theatre in the city of Kyiv. It was constricted by architect A. Melensky (1802-1805). It is now the cultural and business center Ukrainian House. Now this  street is Theatral. Khreshchatyk has got its definite outlines during the restructuring of Kyiv in 1837. In its implementation the street has been lengthened to the modern Bessarab Square and included three squares and has got the name Khreshchatyska. 
 

CATHEDRAL OF ST. NICHOLAS 

 
Address: 77 B.Vasilkovskaya str.  
Tel:2695044 

Cathedral was designed by S.Valovsky and built by the architect V. Horodetsky in 1899-1909. It is easily recognized by its Gothic style and its pair of needle-like towers. It was restored in 1980.

MUSEUM OF FOLK ARCHITECTURE 

 
Pyrohovo Village . (Tel: 266-2416). 
Open daily 10am-5pm; closed Wed.  

Entrance fee $1.00; $10.00 per person for English-speaking guide. Located in the outskirts of Kyiv, this open air museum takes you through Ukraine's history as you walk through the original homes of the past which have been moved here from all corners of Ukraine and restored. Traditional Ukrainian costume and ceramics are on exhibit. The open-air museum is set on 150 hectares of picturesque terrain on the southwestern outskirts of Kyiv. It was founded  in the late 1960's, and in 1976 it was opened to the public. To date, the museum has over 200 structures moved here from various regions of the Ukraine or constructed on the spot. The museum has some 40,000 ethnographic exhibits, including folk costumes, fabrics, embroidery, carpets, ceramics, articles of metal, wood, glassware, musical instruments, paintings, tools, household articles and the like. These objects are exhibited both inside the cottages and other farm buildings and in the permanent exhibition halls.   

MARIINSKIY PALACE 

 
Mariinsky Palace, which was built in the middle of the 18 century by V.Rastrelli in the baroque style, was intended to echo Versailles in miniature. During the last war it was badly  damaged but was reconstructed, and is now a part of the Supreme Rada's premises.   In 1936, the government moved into Pechersk and redeveloped many of old estates: the grandiose building of the Council of Peoples' Commissars. This huge building, now occupied by the Cabinet of Ministers, was designed by the architects Ivan Fomin and Pavel Abrosimov in the Soviet neoclassical style. 
Some years later, premises for the Ukrainian Supreme Council were built on an empty place across the road in the design by Vladimir Zabolotny. 
In Kiev alongside with new grandiose structures - symbols of the modernity you can see invaluable monuments of a history,   architecture and culture. An excellent place to start a tour of Kiev - the Upper Town located on high hills, or Old Kiev.  Here you will find the few surviving monuments of Kiev’s ancient past.  

ST.SOPHIA CATHEDRAL 

Open: daily 10 am - 5.30 pm  
Wednesday - 10 am - 4.30 pm  
expect Thursday  
Address : 24 Vladimirskaya str.  
Tel: 2286152.  
  
It’s just a short walk to get to Kiev’s oldest surviving church, St. Sophia’s cathedral. Today that complex of buildings and churches that makes St. Sophia’s is a museum. Tickets may be purchased at the kiosk inside on your right just before you reach the Cathedral.   
The Cathedral was built in 1037 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise (he’s buried inside) to commemorate the victory over the Pechenegs and to glorify Christianity. 

ST.MICHAEL`S MONASTERY 

The Archangel Michael is considered to be the patron of Kyiv. Perhaps that is why the recently restored St. Michael's Monastery of the Golden Roof is especially dear to Kyivans. Its beauty makes an unforgettable impression. This religious complex is situated just opposite Sophia Cathedral and seems to reign on the steep bank of the Dnipro in all its glory. This precious Kyivan relic, sky-blue in color, with its golden glitter of cupolas and vividly decorated arches, rich services and wonderful choirs, is matchless in the delicacy and   splendor of its architecture and decoration. The entire complex - from the perfectly planned territory of the monastery to the tolling of the  bells (you can strike the bell if you ascend to the top floor of the bell-tower) - is a model of taste  and refined aestheticism. 

ST.VLADIMIR`S CATHEDRAL 

 
Services are held daily 
at 9 am and 6pm.  
Address: 20 Shevchenka blvr.  
Tel: 2250362. 

Located on Boulevard Tarasa Shevchenka, St. Vladimir's Cathedral was originally designed by Ivan Strom and the building was begun by Alexander Beretti and Paul Sparro and completed by Vladimir Nikolayev. The construction and interior decorations took more than 30 years (1862-96). This seven dome three-aisled church resembles the buildings of old Ukraine only slightly. Its walls are loaded with ornamental details. The interior is decorated in the style of Prince Vladimir's period. The interior completed by a team of outstanding artists accomplished the work in eleven years. The main facade is decorated with a double door made of oxidized bronze with enamel, carving and openwork tracery. On the sides of the door are figures of Princess Olga and Prince Vladimir made of embossed bronze and portrayed against a blue enamel background.   

ANDRIYIVSKY UZVIZ (ANDREW'S DESENT) 

Andriyivsky Uzviz was the shortest way from the Upper city to Podil. The name was known from 18 the century. In 1753 was built St. Andrew's Church (B.F. Rastrelli). By the legend, in times immemorial, there was the sea where the Dnipro  River flows now. When St. Andrew came to Kiev and erected the cross on the hill where now St. Andrew's Church stands, the sea drained away. But a part of it remained and hid under the hill. When later the church was built there, a stream opened under the altar. That is why there are no bells at St. Andrew's Church, as with the first bell stroke water would awaken and flood not only Kyiv but the entire territory of the left bank of the Dnipro.  Main structure executed in the 90s of the 19 century and at the beginning of the 20 century. Rebuilt as before is the place of exhibition - sale of paintings and folk creative works in the open air. Andriyivsky Uzviz is called Kyiv's Monastery. If you go there on any day of the year, regardless of weather, you will see quite a few artists  showing their pictures, hung on the walls and fences, applied- and decorative-art artists displaying their wares right on the sidewalk or on little stands - rings, brooches, necklaces, embroidered shirts, earthenware of  most unusual shapes and forms, curious creations made of wood and other materials, to  red banners sporting various slogans, uniforms,  medals, coins and other paraphernalia of the defunct regime. 
Here you find yourself in an atmosphere of the late 19th-20th century with comfortable and cozy little cafes, small shops.   The sights is the house №13 where Mikhail Bulgakov lived, the author of "Master and Margaret" of the world fame. The house is now Bulgakov museum. The other   museum of the Uzviz is quite a unique one being a museum of the street in which it is situated. It traces the Uzviz history in pictures, photographs and other things from the earliest times down to the present day. Along the street, there are much picture galleries and  artistic salons.   
 

HIDROPARK 

 
Hidropark is located on island Peredmestnaya Slobodka, subway station "Hidropark".  
It is a favorite place for Kiev citizens. At holidays and weekend here you can see many people who rest at many kind of cafes, restaurants, casino, swim, play volleyball, tennis, badminton. Many beaches and islands, where you can go by boats. This summer there was founded "Oasis Coca-Cola" - beach for young people with cafe, disco, concert platform, water amusements. There are many disco at night. At Hidropark you can find taxi service.