I visited Kyiv during my five plus months backpacking journey across Central and Eastern Europe. Kyiv, formerly spelled as Kiev, one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. Kyiv is an important industrial, scientific, educational and cultural center of Eastern Europe. It is home to many high-tech industries, higher education institutions, and historical landmarks. The city has an extensive system of public transport and infrastructure, including the Kyiv Metro.
A short history about Kyiv; the city existed as a commercial center as early as the 5th century. A Slavic settlement on the great trade route between Scandinavia and Constantinople, Kyiv was a tributary of the Khazars, until its capture by the Varangians (Vikings) in the mid-9th century. Under Varangian rule, the city became a capital of the Kievan Rus’, the first East Slavic state. The city was completely destroyed during the Mongol invasions in 1240, after that it lost most of its influence for the centuries to come.
Kyiv is full of churches and monuments, many good restaurants and bars, people are very friendly. I made a new local friend, who was more than happy to show me his city. Below are few pictures from Kyiv.
Welcome to Kyiv! A beautiful Manhole Cover with City’s Coat of Arms.Independence Monument, a victory column located on Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) was built in a compositional center of the square to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the independence of Ukraine in 2001.Maidan Nezalezhnosti, literally “Independence Square”, often called simply Maidan (“square”) is the central square of Kyiv. Since the start of Ukraine’s independence movement in 1990, the square has been the traditional place for political rallies, including four large-scale radical protest campaigns: the 1990 student “Revolution on Granite”, the 2001 “Ukraine without Kuchma”, the 2004 Orange Revolution, and the 2013–14 Euromaidan.Sign of KM 0 is a huge winged globe, located in Maidan Nezalezhnosti.A beautiful Flower Clock along the Heroyiv Nebesnoyi Sotni Alley, near the Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square).Gold plated bronze statue of Archangel Michael, Saint patron of Kiev, on top of the Lach Gates in Maidan Nezalezhnosti (independence square). The monument was built in 2001 to commemorate one of the Medieval Kyiv city gates.People’s Friendship Arch was dedicated to the unification of Russia and Ukraine. The arch was opened on November 7, 1982 to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the USSR and the celebration of the 1500th Anniversary of the Kiev city.The Golden Gate of Kyiv was the main gate in the 11th century fortifications of Kyiv, the capital of Kievan Rus’. The structure was dismantled in the Middle Ages, leaving few vestiges of its existence. It was completely reconstructed by the Soviet authorities in 1982.Rodina-Mat, Ukrain Nation’s Mother or ‘The Motherland Monument’, a monumental statue in Kyiv is a part of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine. The stainless steel statue with the overall structure measuring 102 m (335 ft) is taller than the Statue of Liberty. The sword in the statue’s right hand is 16 m (52 ft) long weighing 9 tonnes, with the left hand holding up a 13 by 8 m (43 by 26 ft) shield with the State Emblem of the Soviet Union. The grounds around Rodina-Mat contain number of interesting relics of the communist era, including an eternal flame in memory of WWII victims; various old tanks, helicopters and anti-aircraft guns.A Church in the Pechersk Lavra monastery.St. Andrew’s Church, a gold-and-blue Baroque church, located in the Podil neighborhood, was constructed in 1754 by the Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli, who also designed the Winter Palace in St Petersburg.
Kyiv’s oldest standing church, St. Sophia’s was built in 1037 by Prince Yaroslav’s to commemorate a victory of Kyivan Rus over the Pechenegs (Asian nomadic tribes) and to glorify Christianity. It was named after the famous St. Sophia’s Cathedral in Constantinople. With an interior of rich frescoes and mosaics, many of which are still intact almost a millennium later. It was a center of learning and culture, housing the first school and library in Kyivan Rus. Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Pechersk Lavra are inscribed in a UNESCO World Heritage list since 1990.
Thousand year old Saint-Sophia Cathedral. A beautiful bell tower of the Saint-Sophia Cathedral.St Sophia Cathedral Square with an equestrian statue of Bohdan Khmelnytsky (circa 1594–1657), a Cossack who led a Ukrainian rebellion against the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth to an independent Cossack state. He is generally held to be a national hero and founder of Ukraine. Erected in 1888, it is one of the oldest sculptural monuments and one of the city’s symbols.
St. Michael’s (Kyiv’s patron saint) Golden-Domed Monastery is located opposite St. Sophia’s Cathedral is one of the biggest functioning monasteries in Ukraine. The original, built by Prince Sviatopolk in 1108, was destroyed by the Soviet regime in the 1930s for having “no historical value.” The reconstructed cathedral was completed in 2000. The monastery houses within itself the Cathedral of the Refectory of St. John the Divine, which was built in the year 1713.
St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery.St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery.St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery.Refectory of St. John the Divine, a part of St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, is a rectangular brick building, erected in 1713, which contains a dining hall for the brethren as well as several kitchens and pantries.Beautiful St Nicholas Wondermaker Church located on the mighty Dnieper River and accessed by a walkway from the Kyiv harbour area.Founders of the medieval city of Kiev:: Three brothers; Kyi, Shchek and Khoryv; and Sister Lybid.A beautiful Manhole Cover with Founders of the medieval city of Kiev. Parkovy Pedestrian Bridge on the Dnieper river connects St. Vladimir’s Hill to Trukhaniv Island. The island offers beaches, plenty of forest, bike-riding, and a great place for a picnic. Bridge also offers bungee jumping opportunity.Thanks to my local friend I got to Explore beautiful Obolon suburb of Kyiv.Exploring beautiful Obolon suburb of Kyiv.Podil, an Old town, my favorite part of the city of Kyiv.Enjoying Ukrainian beer with a wonderful local friend, an Ex-Army man with lots of energy to Walk, we walked more than 50 km in 3 days.Having a cold Beer with my Ukrainian friend in Podil old town of Kyiv.A typical Stalinist architectureA typical Stalinist architectureMy host in Kyiv and her handsome sonMy lttle buddy, 3 years young, speaks Russian and English, it took a while but we became friends after 2nd day and started calling me “DyaDya” , an Uncle in Russian.Old trolley buses serving city of Kyiv.
After few days in the capital city, I took a Marshrutka to a small town of Rivne, popular for it’s Tunnel of Love.
In May 2017, 23 days before I was going to complete 50 years, grabbed an opportunity and took an early retirement.. Picked up a backpack and traveling ever since.. Love to travel around the world, experience different culture, local cuisine & drinks .. and take pictures.. so far been to 108 countries and still counting...
Window on the World 