My favorite places in Kiev. Part 1: Architecture

I was born in Kiev and live here till now. I like my city really much and want to share the places which are dear to me as a local.  This time I want to share architecture places.  So here is my “must-see –in-Kiev” architecture list

Saint Sophia Cathedral first from Kiev have got into UNESCO World heritage list, it was build in 1011 and has rich history of war and peace. Nowadays it is museum but not a church.

Inside Saint Sophia Cathedral has mosaics and frescoes form XI century made by best masters of this time in ascetic style. You will not see decorations inside or pomp, but very simple lines of interior and ascetic frescoes. The atmosphere is special here. You will find yourself in place where time doesn’t exist and peace is spreading everywhere. Of course, if you’ll not get there at the same time as excursions come. So the best time to go is working day morning.

You can also walk up at a tower and see all city from one of the great points.

Tickets:

Enter ticket is 2 UAH (app. 0,15 Euro)

Ticket to main church (with frescos and mosaics) 20 UAH (app. 1,5 Euro) and 8 UAH (0, 4 Euro) for students (ISIC works)

Ticket to tower 5 UAH (0,3 Euro)

Important note:

If you like or never heard carillon concerts, you should visit one in St. Sofia. It is really worth of hearing! In Sofia there is mobile carillon containing 50 bells. For timetable you should check at Sofia as these concerts are not regular.

Kiev Pechersk Lavra is the most famous Orthodox monastery in Ukraine. People from whole Kiev Rus were coming here to pray.  It is also in UNESCO World Heritage List.

On the huge Lavra’s territory are situated churches, monastery and other religious buildings. You could walk around, enter churches and some other buildings. I’m ensure you, you will be impressed!

Lavra is also famous for its caves where saints are buried. If you’re a woman you should rent a skirt (or come in your own)  - it is prohibited to go down to caves in trousers.  For tourists it’s open only a part of caves, in the passageway to other monk stays and tell the other part is only for people who came here to pray. As for me, it is rather dark and gloomy place. But how it should be if there dead people lay?

Also on the Lavra’s territory you can find variety of museums and galleries: Historical Jewellery museum,  Traditional Ukrainian decorative art,  Museum of Book and Printing, Cinema and TheatreMuseum.

Walking Lavra territory you will see beautiful Dniper river views. Of course, for views is better to go there from late spring till October.

Tickets:

Entrance ticket territory of museum 20 UAH (1,5 Euro) and half-price for students and retirees. As far I know, ISIC don’t work, but better to try.

Be ready to pay at some museums extra money for the entrance.

Free entrance:

International Museum Day (May, 18), Days of Kiev (last weekend of May),  Independence Day (August 24), Knowledge Day (September, 1), Orthodox Christmas (January, 7), Epiphany (January 6) and other Twelve Great Feasts (according to Russian Orthodox Church).

National House of Organ and Chamber Music is based in Roman Catholic church of St. Mikolay which was build in 1909 by Vladislav Gorodetsky.

After 1917 it was closed and after was used as storehouse. And only in 1980 it was opened as House of Organ and Chamber Music.

Organ was constructed by Czech masters of “Rieger-Kloss”. It has 55 registries and 3846 pipes of different sizes.

The building looks beautiful and really unexpectedly in the street it is situated. It is stylized to Gothic style, even it is made of  reinforced concrete, it looks refined and dynamically.

Note:   

There are organ or chamber concerts almost every day starting at 19-30. You don’t need tickets to enter, only to concerts. Ticket costs from 10 to 40 UAH (from 1 to 3 Euro).

House of Actors was also build by Gorodetsky. That is very interesting building but only from exterior. Inside you’ll find just Soviet interior. The street where House of Actors is situated Yaroslaviv Val is very cosy. Narrow, with a lot of old buildings. It leads to famous Kiev Golden Gate.

On the street there is nice café “Yaroslavna” with tasty newly baked buns, normal  prices and nice atmosphere.

Lipki district is situated above the main street Kreschatik. You can start walking from Grushevskogo steet or Bankova street. And then just walk around. Lipki represents old part of Kiev and also many governmental buildings are situated there. Here aristocracy used to live in the beginning of the XX cent.

Though it is situated in the near center it very calm and cosy place. You can mention interesting buildings in art nouveau style. Some of them are Chocolate House (17/2 Sholkovichna str.), House of Crying widow (23, Luteranska str.), Lutheran church (22, Luteranska str.), House with Chimaeras, also made by Gorodetsky (10 Bankova str.), Kovalevski mansion (1/15, Orlika str.)

Just enter it and see with your own eyes this beautiful Saint Volodymyr's cathedral of XIX century with it’s frescoes and mosaics. If you’ll got at the time of the mess you can hear chorus singing. Believe, it is really impressive.

The place where you for sure will come to buy souvenirs.

This street-museum going from upper Kiev to lower. There are many galleries and workshops at Andriyivskyy Descent. Artists are selling their paintings or other works. Besides there’s a kind of flue market with different Soviet stuff, but foreigners-oriented.

Mikhail Bulgakov lived at Andriyivskyy uzviz and in his house now there is BulgakovMuseum. Walking Andriyivskyy, you’ll see Saint Andrew's Church in baroque style made by Bartolommeo Rastrelli.

The best time to walk here not in the day-time when everything is crowded with sellers and buyers, but in the late evening when only few people walking here. Then you can feel special atmosphere of mysterious Bulgakov’s Kiev. Near Castle of Richard  - the building which really looks like a castle and seems absolutely deserted -  you will see wooden stairs leading somewhere up. Walk up and you will see another beautiful Kiev panorama on the top.