More than 1500 years old, Kiev is one of the most ancient European cities. Yet, the Ukrainian capital remains an undiscovered gem of European sightseeing, with its dazzling array of ancient Slavic cathedrals and palaces and sweeping green lawns.
A few short days aren’t nearly enough to explore the wonderful attractions and cultural sites that Kiev has to offer, but if your travels dictate a strict time budget, here are three of the most beautiful buildings that you shouldn’t miss visiting in Kiev.
Pecherska Lavra (Печерська лавра)
This sprawling complex of underground churches, known as the Monastery of Caves, is over 900 years old, founded in the 11th century. A historic Eastern Orthodox Monastery, this maze of tunnels and caves is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The golden domes of St. Sophia Cathedral, which keeps watch over the underground complex, are an instantly recognizable feature of the Kiev skyline. Many beloved saints rest in the underground tunnels and catacombs of the Lower Lavra, while in the Upper Lavra you’ll find a number of state-owned museums, including a strange and wonderful collection of miniatures.
When planning your visit to Percheska Lavra, be sure to wear appropriate clothing, including covered hair and skirts for women.
The Horodetsky Building
Located along peaceful Bakanova Street near downtown Kiev, the Horodetsky Building is also known as the House with Chimeras, for it is adorned with strange and eerie grotesques (also known as chimeras) in the form of fairy maidens, mythical creatures, frogs, lizards, snakes and other unsavory creatures. Designed by Vladislav Gorodezhkii, a Kiev architect, as his personal residence, many urban legends surround the house and its origins, the most disturbing of them being that Gorodezhkii ornamented the house with the creatures he believed kept watch over his late daughter.
The House with Chimeras is located directly across from the Ukrainian Presidential Building at 10 Bakanova Street.
Mariyinsky Palace
Just across from the Horodetsky Building is Kiev’s most outstanding architectural gem, Mariyinsky Palace, the ceremonial residence of the President of Ukraine. Designed in a beautiful Baroque style that harkens to the fantastic Imperial buildings of Vienna, Mariyinksy Palace is painted in notable blue and cream colors and looks out onto an open tiled mall at its front gate. The palace was completed in 1752 and was the main residence for the Governers-General during the 18th and 19th centuries. It is now used primarily for state receptions.
Mariyinsky Palace is situated within Kiev’s lush Central Park, so be sure to spend an hour or so meandering through the park, which is home to Lover’s Bridge and provides some amazing views of the Dnipro River from its terraces.
