About Kiev

Kyiv or Kiev City is a capital of Ukraine. It is situated on the banks of Dnipro River. The largest city of Ukraine, it is a major industrial, transportation, and cultural center.

A beautiful city with many parks and historical structures, Kyiv is built mostly on hills overlooking the Dnipro. The old section of the city, on the right bank of the river, includes hills surmounted by churches and the ruins of ancient castles and fortifications. The newer quarters, on the left bank, were mostly built after World War II ended in 1945. The city is served by a subway system.

Kyiv was one of the foremost religious centers of medieval Europe, and several noteworthy church buildings survive. The most famous of these are the Cathedral of Saint Sophia; the oldest cathedral in Ukraine, large Pechersky, or Cave, Monastery (founded early 11th century), known for its catacombs, Church of Saint Andrew and the late 19th-century Cathedral of Saint Vladimir. Also of interest are the ruins of the 11th-century Golden Gate, once the main entrance to the city. Kyiv is the site of several universities, most notably the University of Kyiv (founded in 1834).

According to the legend the capital of modern Ukraine , the cultural center and the business activity core of the country was founded by three brothers: Kiy, Scheck, Horiv and their sister Lybid. They were amazed by the beauty of the Dnipro Hills and stopped to settle here; they named the city after the eldest brother Kiy.

In our days the monument in honor of Kiev founders was established on the bank of Dnipro River. First settled in prehistoric times, Kyiv became an East Slavic settlement during the 6th and 7th centuries. It soon developed into an important commercial center located on a major trade route. In 860 the city was taken over by Varyags (Vikings), who made it the center of the first significant East Slavic state, called Kievska Rus. In 988, during the reign of Volodymyr I (Vladimir I; also known as Saint Vladimir), the inhabitants of Kyiv adopted the Greek Orthodox faith, and the city became the leading religious center in Kievska Rus.

Its exposed position near the southern frontier made Kyiv a constant prey to attack. The armies of the Mongol leader Batu Khan sacked and destroyed it in 1240, and the city remained under Mongol domination until the 1360s, when it came under Lithuanian rule. In 1482 the city was invaded by Crimean Tatars, and in 1569 it was incorporated into Poland. In 1686 Kyiv was annexed by the Russian Empire.

Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, Kyiv became the capital of independent Ukraine. Population is about 3 million.

The capital of Ukraine has great culture potential, more than 30 museums, near 2000 unique monuments of architecture, 33 theaters, a lot of permanent art exhibitions. Kiev is one of the greenest cities of the world. There are 60 parks, lindens and chestnuts bloom in the streets.

Modern Kiev is a leading tourist center of Ukraine. The city dynamically develops and its unique historical and cultural monuments are being reconstructed. New hotels and recreation areas are built.

Kreschatik street is the main and the most popular street of Kiev. Actually Kiev is known mostly due to Kreaschatik. It crosses the Starokyivsky and Pechersk administrative parts of the city and connects European and Bessarab Squares. Chestnuts are the integral characteristic of the Ukrainian capital and Kreschatik in particular. If you visit Kiev you can't help visiting it.