Kiev is the capital of Ukraine and one of the oldest cities in Europe. It has a long history and rich culture. There are many ancient churches, cathedral, monuments, outstanding buildings and museums in it. All in all the city of Kiev has a great number of interesting sights. Perhaps the most beautiful and famous ones are Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, Saint Sophia’s Cathedral, Golden Gates of Kiev, the Monument to Bogdan Khmelnitsky, and Khrischatyk-street. Let me tell you a little bit about each of these places. The most visited sight in Kiev is the ancient monastery of Kiev Pechersk Lavra, also known as Kiev Monastery of the Caves. This historic and religious sight got its name after the district where it is located. Every year millions of visitors come to see its unique buildings and take a tour along the caves. This monastery exists for more than 900 years. The second interesting and ancient sight of Kiev is Saint Sophia’s Cathedral. It once was a cathedral temple of Kiev Metropolis. Today it’s an outstanding architectural monument and a popular museum. Both the Kiev Pechersk Lavra and Saint Sophia’s Cathedral are recognized by the UNESCO heritage. Golden Gates of Kiev also refer to the historical landmarks of the city. The Golden Gates are situated not far from the Cathedral of Saint Sophia. They once were the gateway in the ancient city fortress. Today, it is an interesting museum with the monument to Yaroslav the Wise in front. Many tourists come to see the Monument to Bogdan Khmelnitsky at Sophia Square. He used to be the 17th century Cossack hetman and a great military leader. The central street of Kiev is Khreschatik. With the length of 1.2 km, it is one of the longest streets in Europe. Khreschatik runs through three squares: European Square, Maidan Nezalezhnosti and Bessarabskaya Square. Other places of interest in Kiev include the Andriyivskyy Descent, St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, the State Historical Museum of Ukraine and many others.
