Kiev, One Of The Most Green Cities In Europe

Kiev

Kiev is the capital and the largest city in Ukraine. The city is a major industrial, scientific and cultural center in Eastern Europe.

Kiev has an extensive infrastructure, although fairly old, considering the strong economic decline of Ukraine in the 1990s. There is still a highly developed system of transportation, including a metro system – Metro Kiev. The city holds a large number of unregistered migrants, which reaches nearly 3 million people.

The one who had a great influence on the evolution of the city was Vladimir I (958-1015), which expanded the city and started its urban structure. He gave people one religion: orthodoxy. In a short time, Kiev became the religious center of the Russian state, mainly because of its sacred buildings: the Cathedral of St. Sophia, Cathedral of St. Vladimir, Pechersk Lavra Monastery (founded in 1051, Russia’s oldest monastery). From Kiev began the Russian Christianity and the orthodox culture.

Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, also called “Mother of all Slavic cities” is one of the oldest settlements in Europe. For the residents, the biggest pride is the oldest churches in the area of the capital: Cathedral of St. Sophia, Cathedral of St. Vladimir, Pechersk Lavra Monastery, Monastery of St. Michael, St. Andrew’s Church and other sacred monuments as such.

Independence Square

A special meaning among all the historical churches has the Lavra Pecerska Monastery (or Lavra Caves), being declared a monument in the UNESCO World Heritage in 1990. Lavra Pechersk is one of the most important places of pilgrimage of Orthodoxy, where there are over 100 relics of saints who were sheltered there. Founded in 1051 by St. Anthony, initially as a complex of caves where monks lived in fasting and prayer, the monastery became too small for hermits who wanted to retire here taking the decision to build a monastery to the surface at the caves entrance.

Lavra Pechersk is the oldest Russian monastery stretching on two green hills on the right bank of the Dnieper. Today, Lavra monastery complex is the largest in Ukraine with over 30 acres, 100 buildings, of which 42 are considered to be unique in world architecture, 23 temples, fortresses and caves, museums, painting and sewing workshops. Lavra Pecherskaya was almost destroyed by the Turks in 1240, but has been rebuilt over the centuries and rebuilt in the 18th century in Ukrainian Baroque style.

View Of Kiev

The entrance to the city is made by the Golden Gate, Zolota Vorota replica of that of Constantinople, partly destroyed by the Mongols. The Mariyinski Baroque Palace is the most famous civil construction, built for Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, now serving as a place of protocol activities for the Ukrainian President. On the banks of the Dnieper, the two green hills, lies the Monastery Pechersk Lavra, a famous pilgrimage site in the world with an important role in strengthening the faith of this region.

As we said, the monastery contains over 100 buildings, paintings and sewing workshops for priestly vestments, caves, museums, caves, the Academy of Theology, a Theological Seminary and many others.

Khreschatic Boulevard is one of the oldest streets of the city and also an important administrative and business center. Here are the Bessarabia Square and Independence Square, known in the world due to the Orange Revolution. The Independence Square is a giant underground mall, Ukraine Shopping Center. The Palace is located close to it is the Post Palace and the newest monument of Kiev, the white-gold Obelisk, built to celebrate the Ukraine.

Kiev At Night

Along the Dnieper River lies a beautiful park, until the Saints Caves, nearby being situated the Supreme Rada, the Parliament and the National Bank. On the right bank of Dnieper is the impressive Museum of the Great Patriotic War, guarded by the giant statue of Mother Motherland, with a height of 102 m. Other famous statues that evoke the personality of heroes are Hetman Bogdan Hmelnitki statue and the statue of King Vladimir the Great, sacrificed for the contribution to the imposition of orthodox religion among Ukrainians.

Because of the Dnieper, the city is ideal for fishing and water sports in the summer and ice fishing and skating in winter. Not far away from Kiev is Chernobyl, scene of the worst nuclear accident. Ghost Town is one of tourist attractions, where tours are organized, which can get access passes.

The Ukrainian kitchen offers tourists traditional dishes: soup, rabbit pie and its fast food is equivalent to Puzata khat. The accommodation prices start at 100 dollars at a 3 star hotel and it can reach $500 a night at a five star hotel. Tourists arriving in Kiev are advised to take only licensed taxis, so they won’t be forced to pay a double price and not to travel without a conversation guide in their luggage, because there are very few people who speak an international language.

Stadium In Kiev

When you think about where you could spend a vacation outside the first thoughts go to all sorts of destinations, either exotic or Western-oriented on the Old Continent. You can not think that you could relax in other areas, less explored, but at least as beautiful as the others. Ukraine, one of the 15 states of the former Soviet empire, is just such a place, as best represented by the capital Kiev.

Until recently, Kiev was only in the bright shade of the Czech capital, Prague. Slowly, more and more tourists have been refocused and preferred the Ukrainian town. The first impression that Kiev leaves you with is excellent; it is a city as may be rarely seen in another corner of the earth. In 2003, the city had about three million inhabitants. The majority is made up of Ukrainians, who make up 71% of the population, ethnic Russians make up their importance, with 17%, and of course, the Romans who are not missing from the landscape (7%).

Kiev is the city under national level and does not belong to the Kiev oblast. Important industrial center, scientific and cultural in Eastern Europe, Kiev has extensive infrastructure, but still pretty old, considering the state’s economic decline strongly in the 1990s, as we mentioned before. Even so, the city has a highly developed system of transportation, including subway, which has an excellent network set up.

Kiev Has Some Of The Oldest Chuerches In Europe

Kiev, former Polish land has a unique history. The first written attestation dates back to the year 559; the population developed well since the ninth century. Quickly, it became the religious center of the Russian state, with the contribution of Vladimir I, who implemented orthodoxy. Basically, in Kiev and Russia began orthodoxy and orthodox culture. Interestingly, in the past, between 1569 and 1667, Kiev belonged to Poland.

In fact, Ukraine has a distinct air of all the 15 states that previously formed the USSR region. The most important city in the state is observed, besides those written above, and because it is the leafy, but also the life of any other capital city of the province, as compared with other capital, Moldova in Chisinau.

Despite many years have passed since the fall of the Iron Curtain of the Soviet empire, Kiev, which is part of the five cities with over one million inhabitants with Odessa, Dnpropetrovsk, Kharkiv and Donetsk, it preserves the remnants of the past. They are felt by the form of old buildings, but also a part of the population that seems to be insistence on not accepting this. But which accept it, combine perfectly with the cosmopolitan side.

The most important city of the Ukrainian state is distinguished by many green areas. It is said that nowhere in Europe you do not see these areas compared with any other places; life in Ukraine is not very expensive. If the average income in ex-Soviet state is $170, things are changing in Kiev, where a citizen can win $350 a month. Bread costs about 50 cents, a liter of gasoline does not jump a dollar (93 cents).

In Ukraine, the power is the national currency, hryvnia, the equivalent of five dollars, which in free translation would be translated as “horse mane”. It is known that you cand go there with bent heart. The first visit in a city that belonged to a Communist empire can be doubtful. The exit of the airport as Borvspil the feeling of the unknown and fear of a land with old communist ties are removed from the city’s cosmopolitan air.

At the airport in Kiev there are “pirates” taxis. You should prefer a few taxi companies, which have a license from the state. If you do not know, you risk falling into place that you can take private citizens and the equivalent of 200 dollars to the city center. Kiev can be reached by plane, with the stopovers in Budapest or Prague or Frankfurt by car.

Kiev airport is located outside the city, at a distance of about 25 minutes away by car. The first impact with the city itself is one that you give back. Such as a girl at the first meeting, Kiev knows how to hide assets for later. You do not have much time to travel around town to see the beauty of Ukrainian women, which can easily compete for the title of most beautiful on the planet.

Green Spaces Near The River

Whether you go to work, as that walks or relax on a terrace, tastefully dressed women. It is seen from a distance that they care about their image and they like to be smart. In contrast, men are more loose with this issue, but not sloppy.

Although at the surface it is a huge city, a vacation is recommended even walking. Large and wide boulevards are sufficiently “arranged” for any visitor to know how to handle and to reach their destination without having to ask someone. And yet, if at some point you want to check with a local, you must be patient and find a connoisseur of English, French or Spanish. In large part, the Ukrainians have not really took any notice and learn another language besides Russian, probably counting on the power of the former empire’s past and in the global lexicon.

Perhaps, with the development of the tourist area, this chapter will be improved. After a time while you admire the old buildings with new architectural blend, you wake up as you drive past several parks. Though a relatively late hour, 18:00, you can see that these areas are always full; most people are at work or go out to different schools. In fact, the whole city is full of such green areas. Kiev is said to be one of the most “green” cities in Europe.

Bridge Over Dnipro River, Kiev

The Independence Square in the evening becomes a total surprise when you arrive in the central square, Maidan in the local language, large, more airy and spacious than others. Every weekend, this market is the elite place. Circulation closes and runs for two days various concert performances. Everything is well organized, not missing any stalls that sell alcoholic beverages, but even those are all sorts of objects that recall not too distant history.
Speaking of alcohol, you can observe something incredible. On the streets of Kiev you can see people of all kinds, from sad to those dressed in a suit or sport outfit sight consuming alcohol while walking on the street. The show is filled with women who are not reluctant to do the same. After eating in silence, while walking, Ukrainians have a nice glass or bottle on the sidewalk right place and finished in that consummation.

As for traffic, it is not crowded as other metropolis. Besides metro station which is unique in depth under the earth, there is no bus in Kiev, but more spacious than some minibuses. But they move often and that you can go with the one must stand in line, in a civilized manner. No crowd, do not put them in front, do not argue.

Kiev can become one of the cities that impress greatly and you can easily spend at least a week of vacation here. The mysteries of the Ukrainian capital worth to be discovered. While most data Kiev are known well, the city also has its mysteries. Located on the banks of the Dnieper, the third largest river in terms of length and flow, after the Danube and the Volga, Kiev is also called “Christian country”. Some of the oldest cathedrals in the world of Slavonic space, some dating from the very eleventh century are found there.

Pechersk Lavra With Panorama Of The Residential Area Of Kiev

St. Michael the Archangel, who is said to be the protector of the city and St. Sophia Cathedral are only two places known as the Peciorska Lavra. Legend has it that several centuries ago, monks have dug tunnels in one of the steep walls of the Dnieper. With the passage of time, these have become real Galleries, which according to locals the whole city would dim today. In communist times, monks were completely isolated, while considering the political system in that their existence as a major offense to the people.

Moreover, during the dictator Brezhnev, namely in 1977, invented and built a monument meant to eclipse the famous Lavra. Communist leader ordered the implementation of a statue called pompous monument of the Motherland, and that location was chosen instead of one of the most important areas downtown. The statue symbolizes a woman holding a sword, whose tip was straightened up.

The Motherland Monument In Kiev

Not accidentally the sword was placed in that position, with a height of 180 meters. Giant domes cover Lavra. Brezhnev ordered that the monument is installed inside an elevator, so that all residents and visitors can admire the city panorama. After 1991, those who took the political destinies of the state wished to straighten the mistakes of the past and at the end of a large stock, have shrunk by 30 meters the sword. Thus, Lavra domes, which are gilded with gold, were recovered from services.

Now, Lavra, with everything that contains it, has become one of the main attractions for tourists. Every day, many visitors from all over the world come to see with their own eyes the wonders whose beauty is difficult to explain in words. Basically, if you ever go to Kiev, you will not go to visit these relics, will mean that you have been in vain up there.

Opera Building In Kiev

Ukrainians give proof that they know how to sell better merchandise. Visiting one of these cathedrals is how long the day is, each group enjoying many a guide who can speak several foreign languages and especially has a gift for you in the mood of those historical artifacts. Unfortunately, in Kiev, other international languages represent a big secret for the citizens.

Besides underground transport, you can use buses, a minibus as indigenous, even if the city is big enough, do not hesitate to walk. In Kiev there are many absolutely beautiful parks. Do not miss the St. Michael and St. Sophia Cathedral. St. Michael is located vis-à-vis the Cathedral of St. Sophia. The original, built by Prince Sviatopolk in 1108, was destroyed by the Soviet regime in 1930 because it “had no historical value.” The cathedral was rebuilt completely in May 2000. The exterior or roof or golden color of the sky and add a stunning cityscape background, which became a mixture of buildings that are new buildings to fall down and rebuilt.

A reminder of Stalin’s inhuman regime is on the right to exit from the churchyard. It is a monument in memory of the victims of Holomodor (hunger): a starvation orchestrated in part by the Soviet leadership in an attempt to destroy the peasantry, about 10 million Ukrainians perished in the years between 1932 and 1933. Watching the market, there are statues of Princess Olga rebuilt, the Apostle Andrew, St. Cyrill and St. Mephodius.

Maidan Nezalezhnosti, kiev

Moreover, Kiev is famous for very old cathedrals, some dating even from the eleventh century. The visiting of these cathedrals spread over the entire day, central square, Maidan in the local language. Everything is well organized, not missing any stalls that sell alcoholic beverages, but even those are all sorts of objects that recall not too distant history, in the Motherland Monument, located in one of the most important areas of downtown.11