Kyiv is a curious city with a complicated past, both ancient and contemporary. It has a historical, religious and patriotic appeal that, for many years, has attracted tourists from all over the world. Therefore, in this Essential Free Tour of Kyiv, your guide will present the most important sights you must see when you visit Ukraine for the first time: from medieval fortified walls, to golden churches, and Soviet buildings. Walking across the historical center of Kyiv, your guide will point out the remains of the beautiful Golden Gate and the Lach Gates. This will be a good opportunity to hear about the origins of Kyiv, and discover how Greek Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox influences and traditions from Slavic mythology have blended together in Ukrainian culture.
Your tour will also cover many important religious sites, some from different faiths that have peacefully coexisted in Ukraine for centuries. In particular, your group will have the opportunity to see the dreamingly blue walls of St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery, the Roman Catholic Church of St. Nicholas, as well as the striking neo-Byzantine Cathedral of St. Volodymyr, a Ukrainian Orthodox Church painted in cheerful yellow. But the absolute must-see highlight of the tour is the stunning 11th century Cathedral of St. Sophia, an ode to the power of Kyiv when it was the capital of the massive empire of Kievan Rus'. Its interior remains almost intact to its foundation, maintaining that air of yesteryear, with old mosaics and more modern frescoes.
During the tour, your guide will make an effort to explain the historical and nationalist heritage of modern Kyiv. Therefore, you will find many buildings with patriotic symbols around the city. One of the best known is the Statue of the Motherland, a memorial to the Soviet heroes of World War II. And, if history is what you are looking for, then you must stop by Maidan, Independence Square. It is home to a monument commemorating Ukraine's independence from Russia in 1991. Here you will find the Glory to Ukraine column and your guide will explain the many complexities of modern post-Soviet Ukraine, the relationship with Russia, and much more. Are you ready for this enlightening experience? Book your best Essential Free Tour of Kyiv today!