Featured City
Jan 2004
Kyiv
The
capital of Ukraine is the third-largest city in the CIS. It is also the cradle
of Russian civilization, the origin of the Kyiv Rus State founded in the eighth
and ninth centuries and the city from which the Orthodox faith spread throughout
Eastern Europe.
Even though many of its buildings were destroyed in World War II, Kyiv still has
much to offer. The Caves Monastery in the city centre is the focal point
of the early Orthodox church. Visitors have to carry candles to see the church
relics which are set in a maze of catacombs. It is the headquarters of the
pro-Russian Orthodox church. The 11th-century St Sofia Cathedral contains
splendid icons and frescoes and is situated in beautiful grounds. The Golden
Gate of Kyiv is the last remnant of the tenth-century walls built to defend
the city. Other attractions include the Cathedral of St Vladimir (the
headquarters of the rival pro-Ukrainian church), the Opera House, the Museum
of Ukrainian Art (with its collection of the work of regional artists from
the 16th century to the present) and the Historical Museum of Ukraine. Andreyev
Hill is a restored cobbled street in central Kyiv now used by artists to
sell their wares. There are a lot of cafés and restaurants in this area. Khreshchatik
Street and Independence Square are Kyiv’s main thoroughfares. The
square is particularly elegant with its chestnut trees and fountains. Martinsky
Palace and Parliament is the official residence of Ukraine’s President.
The nearby Park of Glory is a war memorial, with a vast and controversial
monument of a woman with a sword and shield overlooking the river. Locals go
swimming in summer in the Dnieper River and climb onto its ice in winter
to fish. It is possible to take boat trips on the river. There is a park and a
beach on Trukhaniv Island.
April 2004
Dublin
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