Kiev (Kyiv) is the capital city of Ukraine and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It is separated by the Dneiper river and has a massive forest running through it. It is packed with tree-lined boulevards and gorgeous orthodox churches.
Highlights include St Sophia’s Cathedral, built in the 11th century and named after the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul.
St Michael’s golden dome monastery was constructed in the middle ages but was destroyed by the Soviets in the 1930s. It was rebuilt after independence in 1991.
Kiev Pechersk Lavra is another monastery dating back to the 11th century, famous for its cave network.
The Golden Gate is the main gate of the 11th century Kiev fort. The gate was eventually dismantled leaving no trace of how it originally looked. The Soviets rebuilt it in this controversial design in 1982.
St Andrew’s church is another stunning orthodox church set on a hill with a panoramic view of Kiev. It was designed in the 18th century in the baroque style by Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli, who also designed the Winter Palace in St Petersburg.
Also worth checking out is the Statue of Independence in Maidan Square if you want to see where it all kicked off for the orange revolution.
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