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Ukraine Travel: City Descriptions, Excursions
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 KYIV
The capital of Ukraine and the cradle of Ukrainian culture, with a population of over 3 million, is among the most important industrial and cultural centers in Eastern Europe. Kyiv lies on both sides of the Dnipro River. The lovely
Khreshchatyk, Kyiv's main boulevard, is situated between two old settlements which form the modern city: the Medieval fortress city of the North and the Pecherskyj District of monasteries to the South. The Zoloti Vorota are located on the
Southeastern gates of the old city walls. In the Pechersky District see the Museum of Ukrainian Art, visit the Verkhovna Rada and the Secretariat of Rukh buildings on Ploshcha Peremohy, and finally the famous monastery Pecherska Lavra, dating back
to the 11th c. Marvel at the interiors of the Trinity Church and All Saints Church, both fine examples of Ukrainian Baroque. Further south is another interesting architectural landmark - the Vydubytsky Monastery.
In this city of a thousand churches, most of which had been destroyed, do not miss Kyrylivska Tserkva and St. Andrew's Church. From St. Andrew's enjoy the panoramic view of the famed Dnipro River and the Podil District. Unfortunately, of all the
churches and palaces of historical Kyiv, only St. Sophia's Sobor (1037) and the ruins of Zoloti Vorota (1054) have been restored. While in the old part of the city, notice the University, Shevchenko Museum and the Opera House. Do not miss
Volodymyrska Hirka with the statue of Volodymyr the Great overlooking Dnipro. Descend by Andrijivskyj Spusk into the Podil District - the artisans' and merchants' old quarters. Another must-see is the Baykove Cemetery, where many well-known writers
and composers are buried (L. Ukrainka, O. Teliha, M. Rylsky, M. Lysenko, B. Latoshynsky, M. Hrushevsky, M. Stus and others.)
BAKHCHYSARAJ
(Crimea) 15th c. capital of the Crimean Khanate. Visit the Historical-Archeological Museum, the Uspensky Cave Monastery, the fortress of Chufut-Kale (10th c.) and Cave City.
BILHOROD DNISTROVSKYJ
(obl. Odesa) 100 km from Odesa, 18 km from the Black Sea on a tributary of the Dnister River. The Fortress (13-15th c.), built on the ruins of the ancient Greek city Tira, with 35 towers (20 of them preserved), is the largest,
sturdiest structure of its kind in Ukraine today and houses the Bilhorod Dnistrovskyj Museum.
CHERNIHIV
Founded in the 7-8th c., this first capital of the slavic Siverian tribes joined Kyivan-Rus in the 9th c., was destroyed by the Tartars in the 14th c., captured by the Lithuanians in the 15th c. and fell under Polish rule in the
17th c. A historical and archeological gem of Ukrainian history, Dytynets, a fortress with royal chambers and Boyar living quarters, is today called the M. Kotsiubynsky Central Park of Culture and Recreation. Transfiguration Church (11th c.),
Boryso-Hlibskyj Sobor (12th c.), Pyatynska Church (12-13th c.), Katerynska Church (18th c.) and the Collegium (17th c.), and are also of significant historical interest.
 CHERNIVTSI
Capital of Bukovyna region, dating back to the 12th c. with a population of over 250,000, Chernivtsi is situated on the banks of the Prut River. The striking campus of Fedkovych University was once the residence and seat of
Catholic Bishops. The actual building dates back to 1864 and is a mix of Romanesque and Byzantine styles. Do not miss the Philharmonic Concert Hall from 1876 where Enrico Caruso and Solomiya Krushelnytska once sang. The city is filled with 18-19th
c. small houses, cobblestone streets, one of which leads to the charming little museum of Olha Kobylanska, the famous Ukrainian novelist.
DNIPROPETROVSK
Founded in 1787 by Potyomkin on the site of the Zaporizzhian village of Polovytsia and named in honor of the Empress Catherine. In the 1870's an intensive development of the city began when a rail line was built linking the town
with Kryvyj Rih and the Donetsk Basin. Don't miss Preobrazhenska Cathedral (1830), Potyomkin Palace and, most importantly, the Yavornytskyj Museum complex, dedicated to the renowned Ukrainian archeologist, historian, poet and painter of the 19th
century.
HALYCH
(obl. Iv.Frankivsk) With the village of Krylos, the original seat of ancient Halych. It boasts a castle from the 14-17th c.
IVANO FRANKIVSK
Located between two rivers, founded in 1661 and originally (until 1962) named Stanyslaviv, it is the second largest city of western Ukraine and the cultural heart of the Carpathian region. Home of the ethnographic Hutsul region and
first opened to foreign tourists in 1990, it offers a bounty of unlimited possibilities: resort vacations, Kolomyja, Kosiv, Yaremche, as well as a wonderful array of ethnographic interests. This lustrous pearl of Ukraine in the Carpathian foothills
welcomes you to the rich beauty and the national folkloric heart of Hutsulshchyna.
KAMIANETS PODILSKYJ
(obl. Khmelnytska) A feudal era fortress (11-16th c.) with military architecture consisting of towers, a Turkish Castle Bridge and Medieval fortification structures.
KANIV
(obl. Cherkasy) Grave of Taras Shevchenko, the greatest poet of Ukraine, the Shevchenko Museum and Preserve.
 KHERSON
(obl. Kherson) Originally a city-fortress and shipyard, one of the most important ports of Ukraine.
KHORTYCIA ISLAND
(obl. Zaporizzhia) With the rise of the Kozak movement, Khortycia became the base of the Zaporizzhian Kozaks and an important center of Ukrainian statehood. Visit the Kozak Museum, see burial mounds, kurhans and Steppe
Babas.
KHUST
(obl. Zakarpattia) Situated on the Rika and Tysa Rivers 100 km from Uzhorod, Khust dates to the 11th century. A designated crown city, it was destroyed many times by the Tatars and Turks. Khust was the capital of Carpathian
Ukraine, which proclaimed its independence there in 1939. Most known for its 11-12th c. castle ruins and the Carpathian Nature Preserve established in 1968.
KOLOMYJA
(obl. Iv.Frankivsk) Famous for master ceramicists and woodcarvers. Visit the musem with the largest collection of Hutsul artworks.
KOSIV BAZAAR
(obl. Iv.Frankivsk) Known for its folk art fair featuring woodcarving, embroidery, kylyms and rugs by local artisans.
KOSMACH
(obl. Iv.Frankivsk) Village in the Kosiv district, center of Ukrainian Easter Egg painting. Oleksa Dovbush, Ukrainian Robin Hood, died tragically here. Visit local private museum of ethnographer Yusypchuk.
KREKHIV
(obl. Lviv) Village in the Zhovkva district, 50 mi from Lviv, first mentioned in historical sources in 1456 and most known for its 17-18th c. Basilian Monastery. Many structures have been preserved: St. Nicholas Church, Holy
Trinity Church, bell tower walls and gates. Restored in 1991, the monastery has a beautiful, originally Tatar (1672), linden tree alley.
KREMENCHUK
(obl. Poltava) Situated on the Dnipro River, Kremenchuk is in the heart of Ukraine's wheat belt. A popular stop on Dnipro River cruises for visiting local farms, kolhosps, and exposure to local cuisine, varenyky
(dumplings).
KRYLOS
(obl. Iv. Frankivsk) see Halych.
LUBNY MONASTERY
(obl. Poltava) An active Orthodox Monastery, architecture 18-19th c., en route from Poltava to Kyiv.
 LVIV
"The city of Lions" is the heart and soul of western Ukraine, with a population of over 1 million. Prince Danylo of Ukraine built this city in 1256 and named it after his son Lev (meaning lion). Notice the prevalent lion adornments
throughout the city's 15-16th c. Renaissance architecture. Visit Vysokyj Zamok, situated on a hill with an unforgettable panorama of the entire city. En route from the Zamok, find the Porokhova Bashta (Arsenal Museum). The old part of the town is
preserved as a living museum; Rynok, or central square, in particular is architecturally exciting with its famous Ratush in the center. While touring the old town, visit St. Nicholas Church, the Dominican Kostel and the Church of St. Onufriy,
currently the Museum of Ivan Fedorov.  This city boasts of Italian Renaissance, German Baroque and Polish influences in its architectural sites. Among the notable museums are the Museum of History, the Museum of Ethnography, the Fine Arts Museum and
the Medieval Pharmacy (Apteka). Visit the newly renovated Opera House and the Zankoveckyj Drama Theater. St. George's Cathedral is a fine example of the Rococo style. Stroll through lovely Stryjskyj Park and Shevchenkivskyj Haj (SKANSEN), an
open-air museum featuring authentic 15-16th c. villages relocated from various parts of Ukraine. Do not miss the Lychakivskyj and Yanivskyj Cemeteries.
MUKACHEVO
(obl. Zakarpattia) Visit famous St. Nicholas Church and Monastery Cells, Palanok Castle (14-17th c.), the White Building and Baroque Castle (15-18th c.).
 ODESA
The largest seaport on the Black Sea, this third largest city in Ukraine with a population of over 1.5 million was founded in 1794. An important cultural center, it is filled with architectural landmarks, including the legendary
white stone steps leading to the sea, the famous Opera House, Vorontsov Palace from 1820, the former Potocki Palace and Uspensky Sobor with its five great domes. Boasting many schools of higher learning and one of the oldest universities in the
former Soviet Union, Odesa is the fifth largest education center in the country. It was always a center for the arts with the Conservatoire and Odesa Art School, the alma mater of great violinists, pianist, singers and painters.
OLESKO
(obl. Lviv) Olesko Castle (13-18th c.), built on top of a hill by one of the Halych Princes, is today a museum and art gallery. It was renovated in 1965.
OPISHNIA
(obl. Poltava) This village is an ancient Ukrainian ceramics center from which works have been purchased by many major museums. Visit the National Museum and Cultural Preserve devoted to Ukrainian pottery.
PEREYASLAV KHMELNYTSKYJ
(obl. Kyiv) Stop en route from Kaniv. The Treaty of Pereyaslav, by which Ukraine was united as an equal partner with Muscovy, was signed here in 1654. View Ascension Monastery and Cathedral built by Hetman Mazepa, unique in its
Ukrainian Baroque style (17-18th c.), and the Dytynets Castle (17th c.).
PETRYKIVKA
(obl. Dnipropetrovsk) This village on the Chaplynka River 25 km from Dnipropetrovsk, is famous for its decorative artwork on chests, rugs, dresses. Visit the Museum of Applied Arts featuring the unique works of these renowned
craftsmen and artisans.
POCHAJIV MONASTERY
(obl. Ternopil) The largest Orthodox shrine in Volyn and the second largest in Ukraine after the Kyivan Cave Monastery. An active monastery, the Pochajivska Lavra is one of the most celebrated pilgrimage sites in Ukraine. Relics
include: the foot imprint of the Mother of God and water with healing powers, the miraculous icon of the Blessed Virgin and the relics of St. Iov. A monastery complex of churches and cathedrals.
RAKHIV
(obl. Zakarpattia) The geographical center of Europe, Rakhiv is located on the Tysa river, 209 km. from Uzhorod. First mentioned in documents dating to 1447, the city was settled by peasants from Galicia (Halych) and
Transcarpathia. The brigand movement under the leadership of O. Dovbush, I. Pynti, F. Boyko, and I. Pysklyvy was widespread here. The T. Shevchenko Monument and Regional Museum are located in the city and the Carpathian Nature Preserve near Rakhiv
covers the Chornohora range and contains the highest peaks of the Carpathians reaching 2061 m.
RESHETYLIVKA
(obl. Poltava) The textile center for Ukrainian handiwork, featuring kylyms, tablecloths, blouses, shirts and "rushnyky".
 ROHATYN
(obl. Iv.Frankivsk) In 1520 Tartars abducted a local girl named Nastya Lisovska who was sold into the harem of Turkish Sultan Suleiman II (the Magnificent); later known as Roxolana, she became his wife and played an influential
role in Turkish politics (1520-50). Visit Holy Spirit Church, 1598 (restored in 1895); with its renowned Iconostas, it is one of the most outstanding examples of Galician folk architecture.
 SEVASTOPOL
(Crimea) Founded by the ancient Greeks, in the 5-6th c. Sevastopol was the bastion of the Byzantine Empire on the north shores of the Black Sea. It sustained considerable damage during the Russo-Turkish War of 1855 and the
Soviet-German War of 1944. The Chersonese Historical and Archeological Preserve includes Chembalo Fortress and Kalamita Fortress.
SIMFEROPIL
(Crimea) The administrative and cultural center of Crimea is the location of Crimea's only airport. The 15th c. Tatar settlement and provincial center of the Turian guberniya established in 1784 are predated by Scythian settlements
from the 3rd c. BC. Recent archeological excavations have uncovered more than 70 burial sites of Scythian noblemen, King Skylur and an unnamed queen among them.
TERNOPIL
Regional center situated on the Seret River, its oldest structure dates to 1540. The "Old Castle" was built on the site of the earlier settlement of Sopilche and contains the nucleus of the 16th c. defensive castle. It was rebuilt
in the 19th c. and renovated in 1954. Despite the ruinous effects of several wars, the city's many important monuments of architecture (eclectic in style), history and culture have been preserved. Good stopover for touring the region's historic
cities and villages: Berezhany Castle (1554), Chortkiv Castle (1610), the Ethnographic Museum in Kremenets and Pochajiv, founded by Kyiv monks (12-13th c.) and since then one of the most celebrated pilgrimage sites in Ukraine.
UZHOROD
Located at the foothills of the majestic Carpathians, this town is the capital of Zakarpattia, with a population of over 150,000. It was first mentioned in the chronicles in 903 AD. The original castle was built in the 10th c.,
rebuilt by the bishop of Mukhachevo in the 16th c., and today is a historical museum noted for its archeological collection. Do not miss the unique neo-Baroque Ukrainian Catholic Church (1732) and adjacent residence of the Bishops of Mukachevo from
1644.
VOROKHTA - VERKHOVYNA - YABLUNYCKYJ PEREVAL
(obl. Iv. Frankivsk) One of the loveliest days you will encounter in Ukraine. Drive through authentic Hutsul villages in the foothills of Mts. Peep Ivan and Hoverlia, and across the Carpathian Continental Divide at Yablunyckyj
Pereval. A ski lift in Vorokhta takes you to the top of the mountain for a photographer's dream- the magnificent views. Enjoy sightseeing in this most picturesque part of the Carpathian Mountains.
 YALTA
(Crimea) From the Greek word meaning shore, one of the most popular Black Sea resorts on the entire Crimean peninsula. Considered the Ukrainian riviera, it has a wonderful Mediterranean climate and is set in the midst of 4,000 ft
mountains. Exotic flowers and trees surround a special treasure at the Nikitsky Botanical Garden - the 1,000 year old pistachio tree. Once a fashionable retreat for the aristocracy, Yalta's splendid palaces and villas have since been converted into
museums or therapeutic sanitariums. In nearby Alupka visit Vorontsov Palace, an eclectic 19th c. architectural treasure. Enjoy a hydrofoil ride to the medieval castle clinging to the mountains, the famous Swallow's Nest.
YAREMCHE - SKELI DOVBUSHA
(obl. Iv.Frankivsk) A place associated with the brigand chieftain Oleksa Dovbush, the Ukrainian Robin Hood, Yaremche is one of the major tourist centers of the Hutsul region. Climb the Dovbush Cliffs.
ZAPORIZZHIA
(obl. Zaporizzhia) With the construction of the hydro-electric plant, this city (founded in the 18th c.) launched the largest industrial complex of Ukraine. Khortycia Preserve, located in the middle of the Dnipro River, belongs to
the city.
 ZARVANYTSIA
(obl. Ternopil) Catholic place of pilgrimage 90 km. from Ternopil, famous for its miraculous icon and healing holy water.
ZHOVKVA
(obl. Lviv) A historic town on the slopes of Roztochya Mt., 23 km from Lviv, held since 1588 by the Zholkevsky family, Polish magnates. In the early 17th c. a Renaissance-style castle was built, which later served as residence of
Polish King Jan Sobieski. In the late 17th c. more than 30 painters and craftsmen lived in Zhovkva. Their work laid the foundation of realism in Western Ukrainian art.
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