Kiev Favorites

Favorite thing: First Roman-Catholic church as mentioned in old documents existed till 1233. In 1814 Roman-Catholic community decided to build own church and give it the name of Russian tsar Alexandr I. Money for the building were collected from Polish families according to amount of servants (kripak) they had (25 kopiyka per person). The new church was built on the place of old burnt church.

The construction began in 1817 by a project of architect Piler, but around 1830 construction slowed down due to lack of money. Further works continued but under cheaper project of architect Mehovych. The building was finished in 1838, but interior and exterior works took almost ten years. In 1842 Kiev nobles began to gather money for construction again, asking not only catholics, but people of other religions as well. It was decided that each county (povit) of Kiev's area must contribue 1200 rubliv. The church was finished in 1842 (some resources tell 1847).

The building is in a style of classicism, in square shape, with a dome, two towers, and portico on entrance.

In 1937 the church was closed and then turned into dormitories. From 1952 there was planetarium and a part of historical library. In October 1990 the church was returned to Catholic community.

Fondest memory: This Catholic church is light color and calls upon to merry life (for me at least) compare to another Kiev's Catholic church located on V. Vasylkivska street.

Favorite thing: Khreshchatyk Street is the main street in Kiev and most people know Kiev by the name of this street. One of the versions says that title of this street is going from a stream beginning at the Khreshchatyk Spring to the place where the Kyivans were christened. Houses appeared at the end of 18 century. At the beginning of 20 century it was a street with banks, shops, offices, apartment houses, theatres. In September 1941 during WWII the street was blew up by Soviet Secret Services and only some houses were survived. The view of Khreshchatyk you can see was created after war by a group of architects. The amazing detail of Khreshchatyk is that it is green during warm time because of many chestnut trees that make street different from all big cities. There are lots of cafes and shops (as for me shops are expensive and not always can offer you good clothes).

Fondest memory: It is lovely to spend weekends and holidays on Khreshchatyk, because traffic is closed and you can walk in the middle of the road enjoying folk music, performances of street actors, street basketball sometimes. But be careful being on Khreshchatyk during great holiday in the evening. There are lots of people who are not polite often. But at the same time you can have lots of fun :-) of course if you like a crowd.

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Favorite thing: The City Theatre was constructed in 1856 by architect I. Shtrom. Officially, the theatre was named the City Theatre but was most commonly referred to as the Russian Opera. The day of the first performance, November 8, 1867 was made a city holiday. The performance of the opera Askold's Tomb by Alexey Verstovsky was the troupe's debut.

On February 4, 1896, after a morning performance of Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky, a fire erupted from the unextinguished candle in the theatre. The fire consumed the whole building within several hours. One of the largest musical libraries in Europe along with numerous costumes and stage props of many performances were lost during the fire.

After the fire, the City Council had announced the international competition to design a new building for the Opera Theatre in Kiev. The winning proposal was by Victor Aleksandrovich Shreter. The exterior was designed in Neo-Renaissance style. The interior was redesigned in a classical style and called Viennese Modern. However, his greatest achievement is considered to be the stage - one of the largest in Europe designed to the latest engineering standards. Unfortunately, the architect had not lived several months to see that day, when there was a solemn consecration of the new premises of the Kyiv Opera. At that time, the Kyiv City Opera Theatre really amazed everyone: its parterre, amphitheater, dress circle and four circles could accommodate 1,650 spectators (in parterre, 384 places). In the interiors, velvet and bronze dominated. The refined armchairs, lusters and lamps had been brought from Vienna. The total cubic capacity of the theatre was almost 100,000 cub.m, the area of the premises - 40,210 sq.m..

On September 29, 1901, the solemn opening of the new premise of the theatre took place with a performance of cantata Kyiv by composer Wilhelm Hartweld (1859 - 1927) and a presentation of the opera Life for the Tsar by M. Glinka.

Fondest memory: Opera House
Located on intersaction of Volodymyrska and Hmelnyckogo Streets, close to Golden Gates subway station.

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Favorite thing: In 1852 there was an idea to build a cathedral devoted to 900 years since Baptizing of Rus. Tsar Nikolay liked the idea and approved a project. The cathedral was built on donations from people and Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra. As an architector was called famous Italian Beretti. Interior and exterior of the cathedral reflects the way of churches in times of Volodymyr (10-11 centuries).

It took 34 years, many changes in planning, dismissal of several architects and lots of artists to complete the construction of this beautiful cathedral. It was officially consecrated in the presence of Tsar Nikolay II in 1896. Exterior paintings were painted by Frolov. The interior walls are covered with paintings from various Russian artists: Vasnecov, Vrubel, Nesterov, Svedomskiy. Also artist from Venice took a part in decoration.

it is quite different for St. Michael Cathedral because of less light colors in interior.

It is working church with daily religious services. So you may see many people walking in and out. Schedule: 9 am - 6 pm

Address: Boulevard T. Shevchenko 20.

Fondest memory: Years ago there were rumors that Cathedral was built in bad devil place. That people who goes there have bad influence on others or can get that churche's bad spirit. They say that paintings are from devil. However, that was only rumors because many people attend this church without any doubt. I assume the source of those rumors was a constant fight between Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox churches.

Favorite thing: Volodymyr’s hill (mountain). On the summer you can find nice cool air in the park of Volodymyr’s Hill and to see beautiful views on the Dnipro. There is nice old gazeebo where you can sit and relax. it is very quiet place

Fondest memory: On June graduates from high schools come to meet dawn there.

Favorite thing: The building of Conservatory was built in 1897 as a hotel Continental for opening of agricaltural exhibition. The project was ordered to two architects georgiy Shleyher and Eduard Bratman. Later Gorodeckiy joined them. The name of street that time was Nikolayevskaya. During World War II only outside structure was left from Kontinental. After war instead of building a new building for conservatory Kiev's administration decided to renovate Kontinental. In 1955-58 the building was rebuilt with efforts of Katok and Krasniy.

Location: On Independence Square

Favorite thing: Underneath the Friendship Arch there is a sculpture made of bronze and depicts a Russian and Ukrainian worker holding up The Soviet Order of Friendship of Peoples. if you ask why workers? Well, it was time of Soviet Union when workers had a fame of country's builders, although I think farmer should be a representetive of Ukraine.

Favorite thing: The Friendship Arch located in Kreshchatiy Park up from Eauropean Square. It was opened in 1982 and is the symbol of union between Ukraine and Russia that was signed by Bogdan Khmelnickiy and Russian ambassador in 1654 during event called Pereyaslavskaya Rada.
Sculptor Skoblikov, architacters Ivanov, Mirgorodskiy and Sidorov.

It is fun during spring and summer here, because there are performances on weekends and holidays on open stage.

Fondest memory: On 25 of May it is the day of frontier guards. This date is old one from Soviet Union and now it is different for Ukrainian defenders of boarders. But people (as a rule men who served in SU Army) still gather on this area and celebrate their holiday. 4 years ago I took a part in organization this celebration and it was really fun (from author - I am not a military woman in present and never was). There was true military “field-kitchen” (“traveling kitchen”) and we ate porridge and drank tea imagine ourselves being in the field on military trainings. Frankly speaking we were very hungry that day and porridge seemed to us very delicious :-).