Kiev (also known as Kyiv), is a scenic city of close to 3 million people situated on the Dnipro River, and is the capital of the Ukraine. 

Kiev suffered extensive damage during World War II, with many architectural and art treasures being destroyed. In the 1930's the Soviet authorities systematically destroyed many of it's churches. Extensive restoration has revived much of historic Kiev and the city holds many great wonders. 

 The Ukraine has diplomatic relations with over 135 countries and close to 60 diplomatic missions are established in Kiev. News correspondents, business representatives, and students from all over the world reside in Kiev, and the flow of foreign tourists and official delegations is heavy all year round. 

The great art and architectural treasures of Kiev today are world renowned. These are just a few of them.
Take a look at the Cathedral of St. Sophia, where the Princes of Kiev were crowned, and it's outstanding mosaics and frescos dating back to the 11th century. 
Overlooking  Podol, stands the Ukrainian Baroque church of St. Andrew, much beloved by Ukrainians. 
The Percherska Lavra, the Monastery of the Caves, is a short trolley ride, or can be reached by Metro,  from the centre of town, and has two 11th-century cathedrals on its grounds, in addition to its world-famous catacombs, bell tower, and museum collections. Not to be missed!!
Close to the centre of Kiev,  the Golden Gate, a structure which dates back to 1037, has been reconstructed and is part of the remains of the former fortified wall of the city .
Some distance away, stands the magnificent 19th-century Cathedral of St. Volodymyr.

Theatre are plentiful, most performances being in Ukrainian or Russian. The Ivan Franko Theatre is the center of Ukrainian drama, comedy, and musicals, and is in it's 75th season and includes brilliant versions of Aeneid and Teve Tevel, the original version of Fiddler on the Roof.
The Kiev Young Theatre is very popular and stages innovative plays in Ukrainian or Russian.
The recently renovated Kiev Opera House presents very good opera as well as a broad repertoire of ballets. 
 

The modern part of the city coexists with surviving parts of the old city on the hilly west, or right bank, of the Dnipro River. The main street, Khreshchatik, runs between two steep hills. Parallel about half a kilometer west, is vulytsya Volodymyrska, the main street of the Old Kiev area (Staryj Kyiv). From the north end of Khreshchatik, vulytsya Hrushevskoho rises southeast along a ridge to the Caves Monastery at Perchersk. Woods and parks cover most of the steep right-bank slopes. The capital's newer sections stretch out on the flat left bank. 

Authentic Ukrainian pottery, embroidery, and handicrafts are available throughout the city, particularly in shops on Andrievsky Uzviz, at Percherska Lavra, and St. Sophia's church. 
Quality and quantity vary from shop to shop. A growing number of hard currency stores stock Western food, alcohol, clothing, and electrical appliances. Most prices, in these hard-currency stores, are similar to those in the West.
The Metro is home to a vast array of stores and small shops housed in the underground caverns.
Almost anything can be purchased from the numerous street vendors that you will find everywhere throughout the city, and they are really good value. 

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