St Sophia CathedralCity/Region: Kiev
Dating back to the 11th century, the exquisite green- and gold-domed St Sophia Cathedral was an important center for Soviet Rus. It has been damaged and repaired over the years, and today is a blend of architectural styles from nine different centuries. Perhaps one of the most striking aspects of the Cathedral is its impressive collection of Byzantine mosaics and frescoes that date back to its inception. The Cathedral also serves as a living text; hundreds of pieces of graffiti relating political and historical events spanning the
centuries can still be seen today.
Address: 24 Vladimirskaya Street
Kiev-Pechersk Lavra (Caves Monastery)City/Region: Kiev
Kiev-Pechersk Lavra (the Caves Monastery) is a fascinating living piece of history dating back to 1051. The
Venerable Anthony, a devout monk, settled in a cave on the western bank of the
Dnieper River. He was soon joined by his followers and their numbers swiftly began to outgrow the caves. Prince Izyaslav and other Kievan aristocracy were frequent visitors to the Venerable Anthony and donated money to build a church and aboveground monastery. Since that period, the Monastery has continued to grow and is still active today, serving as an important center of Orthodox Christianity and reflecting a fascinating way of life.
Address: 25 Sichnevogo Povstannya Street
Phone Number: (0)44 254 2257
Website: www.lavra.kiev.ua
Admission: Entrance to caves is free
Great Patriotic War MuseumCity/Region: Kiev
Dominated by the enormous, towering statue of the Motherland (looking like the sword-wielding sister of the Statue Of Liberty) above it, the
Great Patriotic War Museum houses a fascinating collection of World War II artifacts in a Soviet-built building. Decommissioned tanks sit outside the museum, symbolically painted with flowers and nearby, another interesting statue entitled 'To the Fallen' serves as a memorial to all those who fought and died in the war. Although most of the museum notes are in either Russian or Ukrainian, they are well laid out and the displays are fascinating.
Address: 44 Sichnevogo Povstannya
Hours: Closed Mondays
