It could be a great idea to visit Mariyinsky park while having your Kiev tour. This park is one of the best parks of Kiev and also one of the oldest. Its territory is about 10 ha.
To get to Mariyinsky park you may take two way. One way is to walk from underground station Arsenalna and turn to Grushevski street. Then you will walk for about 7 minutes. Another way is to walk left from Europeans square up to the Grushetskiy street.The park is planned to be in English style and is a unique site of garden art.
The park is around 130 years old. It received its name from the nearby Mariyinsky Palace that was built in 1750 – 1755. The park was founded in 1874 near central entrance of the Palace and the money for its foundation were budgeted by the wife of the Alexander II of Russia Maria Alexandrovna. Appearance of the park changed a lot since that time. For example, in the end of 19th century marble busts and sculptures were erected along the alley. In 1900 cast iron fountain was established and it is still there, so you should definitely go check it out once you’ll be visiting Mariyinsky park.
At first the park was called “Tsarsky” (imperial), but after the revolution this name was inappropriate and it was changed into Mariyinsky. But park had other names as well. In different periods of its history it was called Park of the victims of the revolution, Proletarian park and Soviet park. In 1970’s – 1980’s children’s railway was functioning in the park. The last great reconstruction of Mariyinsky park took place in 2000.
Near Mariyinsky park Stadium Dinamo is situated. Another interesting thing to see there is the Lovers bridge that connects Mariyinsky and Kreschatyi parks. This bridge is remarkable because it is said that if lovers attach a napkin or a piece of close to it or even better if they put a small lock on it and throw the key their love will last forever. So the bridge is full of different garbage and locks. Also the bridge is said to be a place where desperate lovers commit suicides as it is quite high.
Another spectacular place in the park is its viewing point that is situated on the right from the Palace. The view from it is absolutely amazing. This view pointed was constructed in 1874 by order of the empress Maria Alexandrovna.
And finally lets talk about the Palace. In 1744 empress Elizabeth of Russia, the daughter of Peter the Great, picked a place for the Palace while visiting Kiev. In 1750 – 1755 it was built based on Italian architect Rastrelli’s project. The constructions were held under auspices of famous Russian architect Michurin. The style of the Palace is Baroque with its distinctive luxurious decorations. Also the palace has strictly symmetrical composition. The colors used in decoration are typical for Russian Baroque and they are turquoise for walls, light yellow for columns and cornices, white for stuccoes and balustrades. Before the revolution of 1917 the Palace was a residence of royal family. During WW2 the Palace suffered greatly as a bomb hit it and damaged central part of the building. Still the Palace was reconstructed in 1945 – 1949 and since that time it became a place for state receptions.
Every room of the Palace has its unique and charming style which is created with the help of different factors such as precious furniture, color schemes and lighting. Some rooms are dominated with one color like White hall or Banquet hall, Green and Blue drawing rooms. Others have amazing and unexpected combinations of colors.
Nowadays Mariyinsky palace is sometimes called President’s palace as a lot of governmental meetings, receptions and summits are held here.