SIGHTS

KIYV

The 1500-year-old capital of Ukraine is the place rich in architectrural and historical sites.Today Kyiv is one of the most beautiful capitals of Eastern Europe.

Kyivo-Pecherska Lavra - a sacred place of the Ortodoxy, with its architectural ensemble of 11-19 cc. At present time Kyivo-Pecherska Lavra is an active monastery and a National Historical Architectural Preserve. The Monastery became especially workshipped and glorified due tothe imperishable relics of the Saints who repose in the maze of undergrround monastery compound.Nowadays Kyivo-Pecherska Lavra is simultaneously a state-owned museum and a functioning monastery to have Theological Academy and Metropoli tan' s residence on its grounds.It is on the UNESKO world heritage list.

St. Sophia Cathedral - a unique landmark of ancient Rus architecture of 11c. Kyiv' Sophia is a perfect example of a synthesis of art reflecting the glory and majesty of the Kyivan Rus. It was the spiritual,political,social and cultural center of Old Rus.Nowadays of great interest are ancient original frescoes and mosaics of the Cathedral have preserved their beauty till our days. St.Sophia Cathedral is one of the chef-d'oeuvres of the world culture and its ensemble is included in the UNESKO list of the World Heritage Sites.

State Museum of Folk Architecture  and Way of Life Ukraine
(“Ukraine in Miniature”)

On the territory of over 150 hectares among fruit orchards, fields under cereals forming ears, golden sunflowers, transparent ponds and sea of flowers come to light picturesque villages with dwelling houses and household buildings, windmills of the 16-20 c.c.
Rich collection of household utensils, labour tools, Ukrainian folk clothes, works of folk applied art are displayed at this ethnographic exposition.
Among structures of cult and museum’s grounds there is an active Kazatskaya (Cossak) church of the 16 c., as well as Saint Parasceva church of the XVIII c.
The museum hosts all traditional public holidays, festive gatherings, folklore festivals and fairs.  The visitors can partake of dishes and beverages of the Ukrainian cuisine and in folklore restaurants, taverns and pubs.

Saint Cyril’s Church

It is one of the best-known monuments of architecture and art to have been constructed in XII c.
Of special value are the ancient Rus frescoes paintings notable for their skilled execution and unrepeatable image-bearing expression.
Over 800 sq. m of frescoes have come down to us nowadays.
The XIX c. pictorial art composition belonging to the brush of the notable Russian painter M. Vrubel is also world known. Monumental wall painting of the master is extremely expressive and rich in colouring and is striking for spirituality and refinement of artistic expression of the icon executed by him which makes the part of the church marble icon stand.
Inexpressibly beautiful icon “Madonna with Infant Christ” is also a creation of Vrubel`s genius.
At present Saint Cyril’s church is an active one.

National Museum of History of Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945

Museum of History of the Second World War inaugurated on the slopes of the Dnipro river in 1981 is a memorial complex consisting of:
-magnificent building of the museum;
-symbolic cup “the flames of Glory”;
-gallery of sculptural compositions “Defenders of Motherland”;
-grounds to display weaponry and military equipment;
-alley of hero-cities.
This unique architectural and sculptural complex is crowded by majestic statue of Motherland (it is 102 meters high together with its pedestal).
The whole museum exposition documents danger of wars inevitably resulting in casualties and is an appeal to peace and friendship among peoples.

Museum “Saint Andrew’s church”

Unique monument of architecture built in XVIII c. in Baroque style to the design of Russian architect of Italian origin Francesco Bartholomew Rastrelli.
With its refined contours the church magnificently looms against the blue skyline and harmoniously incorporates into the landscapes over the Dnipro river.
Multi-tiered richly decorated iconostasis, elements of decorative Baroque stucco mouldings, sculptures and pictorial canvasses are the adornment of the interior.

National Museum of Fine Arts of Ukraine.

Building of the museum was build at the end of the XIX c. in Neoclassicism style to the design of notable architect V. Gorodetskiy and Italian sculptor E. Scalla.
Exposition numbers over 20 thousand masterpieces of Ukrainian fine arts and iconography of XI-XIX c.c. as well as works of contemporary Ukrainian masters.

State Literary Artistic Museum of T. Shevchenko.

In the museum there are numerous exhibits featuring life and creative activities of  T. Shevchenko, great Ukrainian poet and artist of XVIII c.
There are over 800 original pictorial and literary works of great bard and the life editions in its collection. 

The city of Lv i v played a special role in the Ukrainian nation's history. It was a spiritual center for Ukrainians, their center of the social and political, economical, cultural and educational life. At the same t ime Lv i v became the bright page in the history of Polish, Jewish, German, Armenian people. The city takes the first place in Ukraine by the number of historical and architectural monuments. It is distinguished for its unique beauty, monuments, and variety of architectural styles. The central part of Lv i v is included in the UNESCO world heritage.

Shevchenkivskyi Hai (the museum of folk-life and architecture) - This scansen represents an open-air museum of the Ukrainian wooden architecture and different utilities of the village life. It is situated in Shevchenkivskyi Hai (forest) - one of most picturesque sites of Lvov. More than 10 thousand of craft-items from various ethnographical regions of the Western Ukraine can be found in this museum. The visitors can feel the unique atmosphere of picturesque Ukrainian villages. The gems of this museum are the wooden churches from the Carpathian region - the most exquisite examples of Ukrainian wooden architecture.

Oleskiy Castle - It is a monument of the 14th -17th cc. architecture and contains a rich collection of paintings, sculpture and furniture from the 16th - 19thcc.

Zolochivsky Castle - construction reflecting typical European military architecture and has not had significant reconstruction for centuries. Built in 1630 like a citadel with bastions, it's surrounded by barrages.

Zhovkva town - There were private residencies of the crow n hetman Stanislaw Zolkiewski and the King Jan the Third Sobieski, the military headquarter of Russian Tsar Peter the First, place of born and childhood of the Ukrainian Hetman Bohdan Khmelnitsky - establisher of Ukrainian State in XVII century. Zhovkva is the only example in Ukraine saved Renaissance "Ideal" city-citadel, the real pearl of national architecture heritage. Today on the small territory of the city, there are present two monuments of city house building, 55 architecture's monuments on world, national and regional level, two monuments of landscape architecture, 15 historical monuments.

CHERNIVTSI is an ancient city situated in the colorful foothills of the Caprathians, on the bank of the Prut River. Bukovyna is called the Carpathian beauty, land of beech forests, "eastern Switzerland". The unique wooden architecture, colorful mountain landscapes, combinat ion of different cultures create the original image of the beautiful Bukovyna land.

The first mention about Chernivtsi dates back to 1408. The city is famous for its sons: Volodymyr Ivasiuk, Pavlo Tseliana, Sydor Vorobkevych, Khaim Melamud. In 1905 the Nobel Prize laureate Ervin Chargaf was born.

Chernivtsi is an important cultural center of Chernivtsi oblast. There is a University and Doctors' Training Institute in Chernivtsi as well as scientific research institutions - the Institute of social and economic problems of foreign countries and others.

Famous Ukrainian writer and essayist Ivan Franko graduated the local University in 1891. It is Chernivtsi where famous Soviet singers D.Gnatyuk and S.Rotaru started their careers.

Among architectural sights of Chernivtsi is a wooden Church of Nicholas (1607), Church of Ascension (17 century), Spiridonievskaya Church (1773), Church of Assumption (1783), Church of Christmas (1767).

UZHGOROD  is an administrative center of Zakarpatskaya oblast, western Ukraine. Uzhgorod is situated along the Uzh River and south of the Uzhok Pass across the Carpathians. Uzhgorod has railway station and an airport. Uzhgorod is a highway junction. Uzhgorod population is about 125 000 (2002 est.). According to archeological data Uzhgorod was founded in 9th century. Uzhgorod was first mentioned in 903. In 10-11th centuries Uzhgorod was apart of Kievan Rus. Uzhgorod position has long given it trading and military significance. At the end of the 11 century Uzhgorod was under Hungary's control, since the end of the 17 century - under Austria's control. In 1919 Uzhgorod passed to Czechoslovakia and to Hungary in 1938, back to Czechoslovakia in 1945 and to the Soviet Union in the same year. Uzhgorod is one of the biggest industrial centers of Across-the-Carpathians area. Uzhgorod's industries include the manufacture of machine tools, furniture, veneer as well as food-processing industries.Uzhgorod has a university founded in 1945. Among architectural sights of Uzhgorod there is a castle (11th century), a cathedral (17th century), bishop's castle (1646), Catholic church in baroque style (1762-1767).

IVANO-FRANKOVSK (Stanislaviv or Stanislav till 1962) is the king free city spread between twi rivers of Nadvirnianska and Solotvynsla Bystritsa at picturesque Carpathians foothills near ancient Galych- the capital of Galych-Volyn Principality.

In 1662, the city gained the Right of Magdeburg. The city was founded at the place of Zabolottia village as a fortress to protect lands from Crimea Tatar and fortified point of Polish magnats Pototskiye at Galych land. Stanislaviv began from market place and city hall. They are here in nowadays, but they were reconstructed. In the following reconstruction of Stanislaviv the ideas of the Renaissance about “ideal city” was reflected and it was embodied in its suburb, its streets and temples design.

Coming people like Ivano-Frankovsk very much, even those who is in love with aristocratic Paris or golden Prague. Traveller visited Prykarpatiye capital twenty-thirty year ago still remember the city between two Bystritsa – nice and rather comfortable for permanent living in. Walking the historical center (it coincides with modern administrative and business center) native citizen of Ivano-Frankovsk as well as guest feel free and relaxedly. It because he is not pressed by metal and concrete buildings of megapolis and the city inferiority does not influence him. Ivano-Frankovsk is one of the few native cities where old times were not changed much and 49,5 meters city hall with gilded few years ago dome and Market Place is in the epicenter of it.

CHERNIGOV is a Ukrainian city on the right bank of the Desna river. It's history dates back to the 7^th century. In fact, the first signs of people living in the Chernigov area are traced back to more than 150,000 years ago. The archeologists found numerous arti facts of the Stone Age near contemporary Chernigov: musical instruments made of sea shells and mammoth bones, jugs with patterns that later appeared in ancient Greek and Roman art. There are several legends about the origin of the town's name.

Some people think the word Chernigov originates from the word “Chorny” - Black. The dark forests surrounding the city were so dense that people called it black. Another story narrates about Prince Chorny, who ruled in Chernigov in the 10^th century, and his daughter Chorna. The Princess was amazingly beautiful, enjoyed horse-riding and hunting and was a good archer. The Khazars’ Kagan (the ruler of a nomadic tribe) learned about the girl’s beauty and decided to marry her. He sent his ambassadors with fancy presents, but the proud girl refused to marry her people’s enemy. Kagan went angry and decided to take the princess away by force. The Chernigov people managed to resist numerous attacks but then Khazar s besieged the town. During the siege, a gang of traitors rushed into the princess’s room in the mansion. The princess managed to hit some of the enemies from her bow, but then ran out of arrows and jumped out of the window. The official version according to historians is that Chernigov was founded in the 7^th century by prince Cherniga, at the end of the 9^th century became part of Kievan Rus and in 1239 it was destroyed by Tatar-Mongols. Chernigov, however, still preserved many ancient sights and is very interesting for cultural trips. It is only 130 km away from Kiev, one hour and a half by car.

Detinets and Kotsubinsky park
Several monuments located on Desna beach: Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral from the 11^th century, Borisoglebsky Cathedral built in the 12^th century, Chernigov Collegiums, Tarnovsky museum, the monument of Taras S hevchenko. Twelve cast-iron cannons of the 17^th and 18^th centuries are located here.

St.Catherine church
Located on the hill opposite to Detinets. The church is built in Ukrainian Baroque style and the museum of Ukrainian decorative art is located nearby.

Troisko Ilyinsky Monastery
Te largest underground church in Ukraine in caves stretching over 316 meters.

Eletsky Uspensky Monastery
Cves, Uspensky Cathedral, 36 meter high bell tower.

Black tomb
According to the legend, the prince and founder of Chernigov was buried here.

POLTAVA (Ukrainian and Russian: Ïîëòàâà; Polish: Połtawa) is a city in central Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Poltava Oblast (province), as well as the administrative center of the surrounding Poltavskyi Raion (district) within the oblast. The city itself is also designated as its own separate raion within the oblast. The current estimated population is 313,400 (as of 2004).It is still unknown when the city was founded. Baltavar Kubrat's grave was found in its vicinity, and its name derives from the title he, his predecessors and his successors bore. Though the town was not attested before 1174, municipal authorities chose to celebrate the town's 1100th anniversary in 1999, for reasons unknown. The settlement is indeed an old one, as archeologists unearthed a Paleolithic dwelling as well as Scythian remains within the city limits.The presen t name of the city is traditionally connected to the settlement Ltava which is mentioned in the Hypatian Chronicle in 1174. The region belonged to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the 14th century. The Polish administration took over in 1569. In 1648 Poltava was captured by the Ruthenian-Polish magnate Jeremi Wiśniowiecki (1612-51). Poltava was the base of a distinguished regiment of the Ukrainian Cossacks. In 1667 the town passed to the Russian Empire.In the Battle of Poltava on June 27, 1709 (Old Style), or 8 July (New Style), tsar Peter the Great, commanding 45,000 troops, defeated at Poltava a Swedish army of 29,000 troops led by Field Marshal Carl Gustaf Rehnski�ld (who had received the command of the army after the wounding of the Swedish king Charles XII on June 17). "Like a Swede at Poltava" remains a simile for "to tally helpless" in Russian and Ukrainian idiom. The battle marked the end of Sweden as a great power and the rise of Russia as one.Rabbi Yitzchok Isaac Krasilschikov served as the city's rabbi for many years both before the Russian Revolution and after. The city played host to the Mir Yeshiva during World War I and until 1921.

The centre of the old city is a semicircular Neoclassical square with the Tuscan column of cast iron (1805-11), commemorating the centenary of the Battle of Poltava and featuring 18 Swedish cannons captured in that battle. As Peter the Great celebrated his victory in the Saviour church, this 17th-century wooden shrine was carefully preserved to this day. The five-domed city cathedral, dedicated to the Exaltation of the Cross, is a superb monument of Cossack Baroque, built between 1699 and 1709. As a whole, the cathedral presents a unity which even the Neoclassical belltower has failed to mar. Another frothy Baroque church, dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos, was destroyed in 1934 and rebuilt in the 1990s.

KHERSON region is one of the Three Southern regions of Ukraine. It occupies the territory of about 28.5 thousand square kilometers (4,7 % of the territory of Ukraine). Population of the region is 1237,1 thousand inhabitants.

Our region is washed by the Black Sea in the Southwest, by the Sea of Azov in the Southeast and Syvash Lake in the South. Kherson region borders on Dnipropetrovsk region in the North, Zaporizhya region in the East and Mykolayiv region in the West. On the South it borders with the Crimea.

The region has an advantageous geographical location, unique natural and climatic characteristics, more then 200 kilometers of the sunny sea coast and developed resort industry, rich history, big industrial and a gricultural potential. Here ocean vessels are built, quality sorts of wheat are grown, grain combines are assembled, wine-making is practiced. Fishermen are attracted by picturesque flood-plain of the Dnieper river, hunters – by the islands named Biryuchyi and Dzharylhach, archeologists – by Scythian grave-mounds and cities of ancient settlements, blocks of old buildings of Kherson, Beryslav and Skadovsk, two well-know biosphere reserves "Askania-Nova" and Chornomorskyi reserve.

The city of Kherson is an administrative and industrial center of Kherson region. It is situated in the lower reaches of the Dnieper river on its right bank. Kherson occupies the territory more then 90 square kilometers. Its population is about 320 000 inhabitants.
This land was touched by a high antique civilization from the VI century B.C. Numerous old Greek monuments of that time can be seen in the Local Lore Museum now.

Kherson was founded in 1778 for the defense of the Southern borders of Russian Empire from Turkish-Tatar invaders, as a town with a fortress and admiralty, were in 1783 the first ship of the Russian Black Sea Navy "Glory of Catherine" was launched.
Remains of ramparts, the stone gates, the buildings of the fortress' arsenal, along with a well and a powder magazine have been preserved on the territory of the city-fortress historical center. There is also the St. Catherine Cathedral (1786), which was built to the design of the famous architect Ivan Starov. General-Fieldmarshal, Prince Hrihoriy Potyomkin, the founder of Kherson, was buried at the territory of the Cathedral.
History of the city connected with the names of such well-known people as the Great Russian military leader Alexander Suvorov and Admiral Ushak ov

SIMFEROPOLl is the capital city of Crimea and is situated in the southern parts of Ukraine. The capital is a wonderful city to visit and there are many sights and tourist attractions for one to visit. The temperature here is relatively warm and dry throughout the year with no extreme weather conditions to watch out for.

One of the sights you must definitely go visit is a monument called the Obelisk. It was one of the first monuments ever to be installed in Simferopol and was built in honor of Vasily Dolgoruky, a general in the army. Dolgoruky's grandson installed this eighteen-meter high obelisk in 1842 in recognition for all his grandfa ther's efforts during the Russian and Turkish war.

If you appreciate beautiful architecture, then the railway station is another place you should put down on your itinerary. It is rated as one of the most stunning buildings in the whole of the city and has unusual architectural features that are unique to the USSR. The railway station was built during Stalin's reign at a time when public buildings were built for beauty and not just for practicality.

Another interesting building is the Tatar mosque, which was first built in 1502 in white chalkstone. Interestingly, chalkstone is not the building material that is normally used to construct mosques in this region. The Tatar mosque was in ruins up until 1993 when a project to reconstruct it went underway producing a fully functioning building. The Russian Orthodox Cathedral is another attraction and is one of the main churches in Simferopol.

There are many interesting restaurants and cafes in the city center that provide varying dishes, both local and foreign. If you are looking for quick service then you may want to avoid the restaurants, as they are notorious for taking a long time to prepare meals. If time is not an issue and you are feeling rich then visit Chistiye Prudi, one of the two top restaurants in Simferopol. The prices may be more than what you are use to paying, but you can be assured that the food is out of this world and the service is a dream. You will have to make reservations at Chistiye Prudi as it is a very popular wedding venue and many of the local officials and businessmen in Simferopol come and dine here.

There are many more reasons as to why you should include the city of Simferopol to your "must do" list when you come visit Ukraine, so come and discover them.

ODESA is the fourth largest city in Ukraine .  It is the administrative center of the Odesa Oblast ( province ), and is designated as its own separate raion (district) within the oblast. Odesa is a major port on the Black Sea .

An ancient Greek colony had once occupied the site of the city. Numerous monuments of antiquity confirm links between this territory and the Eastern Mediterranean . In the Middle Ages these lands were a part of the Kievan Rus , Galich and Volyn Principality, the Golden Horde , the Great Lithuanian Principality , the Crimean Khanate and the Ottoman Empire . Crimean Tatars traded there in the 14th century . In the course of Russian – Turkish wars these lands were captured by Russia at the end of the 18th century.From 1819 – 1858 Odesa was a fre e port ( porto franco ). During the Soviet period it was the most important port of trade in the U.S.S.R. and a Soviet naval base . On January 1 , 2000 the Quarantine Pier of Odesa trade sea port was declared a free port and free economic zone for a term of 25 years.

In the 19th century it was the fourth city of Imperial Russia , after Moscow and St. Petersburg , and Warsaw . Its historical architecture has a flavor more Mediterranean than Russian, having been heavily influenced by French and Italian styles. Odesa has always possessed a spirit of freedom and ironic humour, probably by virtue of its location and its willingness to accept and tolerate people of many different backgrounds.

Odesa is a popular tourist destination, with many therapeutic resorts in and around the city. The Filatov Institute of Ey e Diseases & Tissue Therapy is one of the leading institutes for eye care. The Tolstoy , Vorontsov , and Potocki families owned palaces in Odesa, which can still be visited.

Most of the city's 19th century houses were built of limestone mined nearby. Abandoned mines were later used and broadened by local smugglers . This created a complicated labyrinth of underground tunnels beneath Odesa, known as " catacombs ". They are a now a great attraction for extreme tourists . Such tours, however, are not officially sanctioned and are dangerous because the layout of the catacombs has not been fully mapped and the tunnels themselves are unsafe. These tunnels are a primary reason why subway was never built in Odesa.

YALTA

Steep mountain peaks serve as a lovely backdrop for Yalta the jewel of the Crimean peninsula and our favorite Ukrainian city. We’re not surprised that the writer Anton Chekhov would choose to live in this seaside resort—it seems to be a combination of Carmel California the French Riviera and Greece. Yalta (pop. 80 000) has exemplary resorts museums and beaches.
Be sure to see Livadia the former Romanov vacation home (palace really) used for the World War II conference of Stalin Churchill and Roosevelt. Chekhov’s former residence has been turned into a museum; inside you’ll find the writer’s medical bag (from his days as a doctor) and the piano Rachmaninov played when he visited. Allow at least two (but preferably three) nights for relaxation. Just outside of Yalta set on a hilltop beside the ocean are the Nikits ky Botanical Gardens which boast 1 600 varieties of roses and a very good restaurant/club. Don’t miss the Swallow’s Nest a fantastical castle perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea (the castle was in fact designed for a German businessman by a U.S. architect).

We enjoy the refreshing ferry or hydrofoil ride between the resort towns along the coast. Alupka from which you can take a cable car to Mt. Ai-Petri for fabulous views and Miskhor with a beautiful beach are our favorite resorts. Special trips can be arranged to Sevastopol and Balaklava important sites in the Crimean War immortalized in the poem “The Charge of the Light Brigade." Another excursion goes to Bakhchisarai a city of minarets and mosques—it was once the capital of the Crimean Khanate. While there see the ma gnificent palace of Khan Mengli-Girel and the Fountain of Tears which inspired Pushkin to write the poem The Fountain of Bakhchisarai.

There’s no airport in Yalta; you fly to the regional capital of Simferopol set among beautiful vineyards and orchards then take a car into the city (about an hour’s drive). 210 mi/340 km southeast of Odessa.