Kiev highlights – must see places
In spite of that XXI ceаntury has already given its’ high development achievements and now tries to create people with serious and analytic mind, humans’ trust in magic is still alive. I mean, it’s quite natural for people to believe in wonders, to sick for adventures and so on. The first and the easiest way to rush out from the daily routine is surely travelling. That gives you pleasure and taste of the real life, with its incredible, unbelievable and simply interesting moments. There’s no matter what direction will you choose. Let it be Africa or South America, Europe or Alaska. Every new, unknown place will delight you with strong feelings.
Our company is proud to introduce you the capital of Ukraine, Kiev-city. That is a big beautiful European city in the Europe (as a continent) center. We may easily talk about the Kiev as a center of traditions, culture and history (European, Slavonic and obviously Ukrainian), and the center of economics, politics, religion, education and science as well. It considers being the oldest and the most charming city of Europe. It stretches on the high hills and attracts with gilded domes of numerous churches and cathedrals.
The history of the city begins about 1500 years ago, but its status was always the same, while the country borderlines and conditions were only to change. Nowadays, Kiev is a worthy exponent of its difficult history and modern world as well. Foreigners love this city and citizens are surely proud of it. People here are kind and ready-to-help, and, of course, the welcoming feature of Ukrainian people character is famous all over the world. Not to be a chatterbox, let me justify that with those places, which are surely important to be seen.
The city-center, usually marked as a Khreschatyk and Independence Square, is really much wider. Quite every metro station not far from the center has its own venerable highlight or monument worth visiting. But still, Khreschatyk is acknowledged Central Street, where you can meet more tourists than native citizens. Here you may see the combination of buildings of previous and present century (as it was damaged while the World War II, in distinction from the Podol, for instance); you may visit big modern shopping centers, such are Globus and Metrograd, where you may meet abroad and simultaneously Ukrainian goods, visit different cafes and some exhibitions of art. On the Khreschatyk you may also get nearer to the common life and visit the biggest and the oldest market, called Besarabskiy market. Next to it appears the modern business and entertainment center, Arena-city, that includes also fashion boutiques, night clubs and renowned Pinchuk Art Center, where various topical exhibitions are held all the time and the entrance is free.
Khreschatyk Street crosses the Independence Square and leads to European Square. Here all the main celebrating events take place: concerts, different gatherings and so on. For today, a big project Maydans is hold on the Independence Square and so every weekend you may admire with a great amount of young people dancing professionally on the huge stage. By the way, every weekend the traffic is stopped at the Khreschatyk Street, so that you may freely walk around the high-road.
At the Independence Square you’ll see lots of monuments, which symbolize the different periods of Ukrainian history, resembles the independent character of Ukrainian nation and just greets every new-comer with beauty and honor. Kyiv Post and hotel “Ukraine” is also here. At the European Square you may visit another exhibition center called “Ukrainian House”; expositions here are usually connected with Ukrainian culture; here also great number of cultural international conferences and symposiums take place. Renowned “Dnipro” hotel and “Dynamo”-stadium situate here.
The next strongly-impressive part of Kiev is surely Podil. It’s an old-city, which appears to have a wonderful combination of ancient and modern buildings, is full of cafes, boutiques and exhibitions as well. Here you may have a rest, touch the calmness of the big city, watch the unhurried river-stream. Podil is rich with narrow streets, historical places and churches. It’s the best place in Kiev, where you may feel a wonderful atmosphere of piece and confidence. Here you can have a walk along the Dnipro-river and watch the beauty of Kiev-city from the small ship. One of the oldest educational institutions – Kiev Mohyla Academy is here – in front of the monument of its founder – Petro Mohyla. At Podil citizens make business, study, make shopping and have rest, so Podil is something like a small city inside the bigger one. You won’t understand its aura, until you visit Podil yourselves.
Podil and Khreschatyk are connected with a help of renowned Kiev Funicular, also very old but still fine-working. Try it and you will see the beautiful picture of Kiev, when you look through the window of the cabin. This cabin will deliver you to the next must-see place – Mykhailivska Square, where you simultaneously see the St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, St. Sophia’s Cathedral, monuments to Bohdan Khmelnitskiy and St. Olga. At the same time you get into busy city-center with rushing people, luxurious cars and usually few marriages (St. Michael’s Monastery is very popular among marriage-couples all year round). Hear also “Hyatt” and “InterContinental” hotels are situated.
These are the main must see places in Kiev, but surely in order to get acquainted with the city that is totally not enough.
Of course, we must admit the next peculiarity. Kiev is not just a city with parks; it’s like a city in the middle of the big-big park. Wide-spreading green parks, hills, covered completely with trees, historical museums in the open air – that are the richest Kiev beauties. In every park you will meet a wonderful unexpected surprise that you’ll surely appreciate and remember. There are lots of alleys and roads, where you can suddenly meet the museum, the old house, the church or simply the small ice-cream trailer. These parks are full of mystery and romantic; trees are nearly alive. After all, do you know any other place, where you can see yellow leaves in summer; or where chestnuts are in blossom in autumn? Ukraine is a country of nature. Here only you may find such bright, rich colors. And every season is suitable for visiting Kiev-city.
Do not forget – wonders are everywhere. Just try to notice them and make your life fascinating!