Kiev, Europe’s most exciting destination for 2012.
Kiev was recently voted third in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel: Top Ten Countries for 2012. The city boasts two stunning UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and is fast becoming a major cultural destination for Europe, especially for those interested in travelling ‘off the beaten path.’
Kiev is undoubtedly the go-to destination for 2012.
May 17th- 1st August, 2012Kiev Inaugural International Biennale of Contemporary Art ‘ARSENALE’
This event is supported by both the Ukrainian federal government, as well as the Kiev city authorities. In addition to the main exhibition event, ‘ARSENALE’ will present a parallel program in a variety of cultural institutions, including state and private museums, art centres, galleries and public spaces of Kiev. The city is set to come alive with a diverse range of events planned across Kiev throughout this period.
June 8 -July 1st, 2012UEFA European Football Championship 2012
Kiev will host important matches of the UEFA European Football Championship 2012, including the final on 1st July.
Most of the England and Germany matches will be played within the Ukraine, with the final in Kiev. Colombian pop sensation Shakira joined forces with Ukraine president Viktor Yanukovych and 60,000 spectators as the covers came off Kiev's Euro 2012 Olympiysky stadium on Saturday 3rd Dec.
Conde Nast Traveller - online:
"Ukraine's richly historic capital is looking forward to a bright future as a European nation.... Its hilltops provide spectacular settings for outstanding historical buildings; every ridge crammed with a monastery or church. You can go to the opera for a fraction of London prices and eat good food in modestly-priced restaurants. Visit now before the hordes discover it."
The city is gearing up its infrastructure and facilities to support the expected influx of visitors for these two events, and private organisations and facilities (restaurants, bars, shops, hotels,) are also being reinvigorated to take advantage of the expected extra business.
Kiev: Europe’s Undiscovered Capital
Kiev is less familiar to tourists than many other European cities, but those who have visited will confirm that Ukraine’s capital is among the most beautiful and fascinating that the continent has to offer.
While the opening up of the former states of the Soviet Union has seen the likes of Prague and Budapest join the well-beaten track of city break destinations, Kiev remains relatively undiscovered. This will undoubtedly change as the city gears up to host the UEFA 2012 football (the final of which will be held in Kiev) and the opening of the massive Mystetskyi Arsenal National Art Museum Complex (which will eventually be one of Europe’s largest museums) – making now the ideal time to visit for the adventurous traveller in search of a more authentic cultural experience.
The bustling Ukrainian capital is situated on the Dnipro River and has a population of close to 3 million people. The Dnipro River divides the town in a north-south direction: the modern centre with surviving parts of the old city are on the green and hilly west, and the capital’s newer sections, characterised by large housing developments and industrialised neighbourhoods, stretch out on the flat left bank. Discerning visitors will appreciate the plethora of magnificent gold-domed churches, majestic architecture spanning many centuries, the strikingly vibrant art scene and the metropolitan pleasures of a chic café society; its world-class shopping and buzzing nightlife is gaining a reputation as second only to Moscow. A checklist of some of the key cultural highlights and sightseeing attractions can be found below.
In terms of cuisine, popular traditional dishes include varenyky (boiled dumplings with mushrooms, potatoes, sauerkraut, cottage cheese or cherries), borsch (soup made of beets, cabbage and mushrooms or meat) and holubtsy (stuffed cabbage rolls filled with rice, carrots and meat), along with specialties such as Kiev Cake and the famous Chicken Kiev.
The people of Kiev, and Ukraine in general, are appreciative of foreign visitors. You can expect a friendly welcome and helpful service, with perhaps just a touch of Soviet-era brusqueness in places less touched by outsiders. The lack of familiarity with tourists – which is sometimes manifest in the surprise with which visitors are greeted and an occasional absence of English language signage – is very much part of the appeal of Kiev.
A Brief History
Often referred to as "the mother of all Slavic cities", the Ukrainian capital is one of Europe’s largest –and oldest – cities. Kiev is thuoght to have been founded in the 5th century by, legend has it, three brothers, Kyi, Schek and Khoryv, and their sister Lybed. The city was named after the eldest brother Kyi. An iconic statue of the four siblings – the Foundation of Kiev Monument – stands on the banks of the Dnipro River.
Kiev gradually acquired prominence as the centre of the East Slavic Civilization, reaching its Golden Age in the tenth to twelfth centuries as a political and cultural capital. Completely destroyed during the Mongol invasion in 1240, the city lost most of its political influence for centuries to come.
The city prospered again during the Russian industrial revolution in the late 19th century. In the turbulent period following the Russian Revolution, caught in the middle of several conflicts, Kiev became the capital of several short-lived Ukrainian states. From 1921 the city was part of the Soviet Union, since 1934 as the capital of Soviet Ukraine. In World War II the city was destroyed again, almost completely, but quickly recovered in the post-war years becoming the third most important city of the Soviet Union and the capital of the second most populous Soviet republic. It now remains the capital of Ukraine, independent since 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
A Christian city since 988, Kiev has played an important role in preserving the traditions of Orthodox Christianity, especially at times of domination by Catholic Poland, and later the atheist Soviet Union.
Visitor’s Checklist: Cultural Highlights and Sightseeing Attractions
A walk around town….
Khreschatik Street: the city’s main thoroughfare a grand eight-lane wide, tree-lined boulevard which becomes a pedestrian precinct on the weekends. Flanked by imposing Stalinist architecture, the street is populated with boutiques and cafes as well as street performers.
Andriyivsky Uzviz: Kiev’s most famous cobblestoned street Andriyivsky Uzviz or St Andrew’s Descent leads from the old town towards the mercantile quarter and port of Podil. The steep meandering street historically connected the governmental part of the Upper City with the Podil, the Lower City where merchants and craftspeople used to live. Often referred to as Kiev’s Monmatre, nowadays the street hosts concerts, art festivals and holiday celebrations, and a central place for local artists to display their works.
Golden Gate: modelled on Constantinople’s Golden Gate the famous Zoloti Vorota was erected in by Prince Yaroslav in 1037 as the main entrance into the ancient city. However, the gate was largely destroyed in the 1240 Mongol ransacking of Kiev, and what you see today is a 1982 reconstruction.
Independence Square: located in the heart of the capital, the ‘Maidan Nezalezhnosti’ was the scene of the Orange Revolution protests against political corruption and electoral fraud in 2004-05; the revolutionary graffiti on the wall of the main post office has been covered with perspex to preserve this significant chapter in Kiev’s history. The square is a centre for public gatherings, national holiday celebrations and cultural festivals. Other squares of interest include Sophiyivska Square, European Square and Bessarabska Square, which is where the central covered market is located, for those interested in purchasing some inexpensive caviar.
Churches and Cathedrals
St Sophia Cathedral: one of Kiev’s two UNESCO World Heritage Sites is the oldest standing church in the City.
It was built by Prince Yaroslav in the first half of the 11th Century in commemoration of the victory over the Pecheneg tribe. Famous for its mosaics and frescos by Byzantine masters, for many years it served as a burial place of Kiev princes. The cathedral’s green and gold cupolas are one of the most common images of Kiev.
Percherska Lavra (the Monastery of the Caves): the second UNESCO-protected World Heritage Site is a short trolley ride from the centre of town. Built ten centuries ago, this complex of churches – including two 11th century cathedrals - has been a holy place of worship for devout Christians over the centuries. Famous for its catacombs and saints' relics, Lavra is also called the Monastery of Caves.
St Andrew’s Church (Andreevskaya): also declared a museum in 1968, this is a magnificent example of the traditional Ukrainian five-domed, cross-shaped church. It was built in the 18th century by Italian architect Bartelomeo Rastrelli for Empress Elisabeth Petrovna who, it is said laid the first foundation stone of it herself. Unfortunately the Empress died before the work was finished but in the 1970s Ratsrelli's plans were found and the church was fully restored.
St Michael's Cathedral has been one of the jewels of Kiev’s architecture since the 12th century. It was originally built by Prince Sviatopolk in 1108, but was destroyed by the Soviet regime in 1934-35. Following Ukraine's independence in 1991, St Michael's was reconstructed from scratch - in less than two years.
St Vladimir's Cathedral: it took 34 years, many changes in planning, the dismissal of several architects and numerous artists to complete the construction of this beautiful cathedral. It was officially consecrated in the presence of Tsar Nikolay II in 1896. The interior walls are covered with paintings from various artists, while from outside the bright colours and strong Byzantium style make St Vladimir truly eye-catching.
Vydubytsky Monastery: nestled in dense foliage in the hill beneath the Botanical Gardens is one of Kiev’s most ancient monasteries - thought to be at least as old as the city itself – which is home to a small community of monks.
Museums and Galleries
Mystetskyi Arsenal: is the biggest arts and culture project in Ukraine.
One wing is already open and the whole Mystetskyi Arsenal building is under renovation – which on completion will make it one of the largest museum complexes in Europe. In May 2012 it will be the venue for Kiev’s inaugural Biennale of Contemporary Art, Arsenale.
The National Folk Decorative Art Museum: is one of the largest art museums in Ukraine. Founded in 1899, today the museum displays over 75,000 artefacts of Ukrainian traditional folk and decorative art dating from 15th century.
Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life: this open-air museum is located to the southwest of Kiev, in the picturesque setting of Pirogovo village. The museum was founded in the late 1960s and features the unique collection of folk architecture from all regions of Ukraine. In summer and autumn the museum hosts special craft festivals
Kiev Museum of Western and Oriental Art: founded in 1919 on the basis of private collections, and today home to one of the best collections of foreign art in Ukraine (nearly 17,000 artworks).
Kolektsia Gallery, Ya Gallery, Karas Gallery are considered to be some of the best art galleries for leading Ukrainian artists.
Other places of interest
The Museum of the Great Patriotic War and the Rodin Mat (Motherland) Statue: the 530-tonne metal statue of the female warrior is 68 m high, and stands on a 40 m pedestal. She holds a 12-tonne sword in her right hand and the USSR symbol in the left. Brezhnev opened the monument in 1981. In the Memorial Hall of the Great Patriotic War museum hundreds of funeral letters to the dead soldiers are on display. Every year on Victory Day the Fire of Glory is lit here.
The Mariyinsky Palace was built in the middle of the 18th century by Bartolomeo Rastrelli in the baroque style and at present is used as the residence for the Ukraine president’s ceremonial purposes. The palace was originally built for Empress Elizabeth in 1755 and it is connected to the Ukraine Parliament, the sole body of legislative power in Ukraine.
The National Opera House is a beautiful building and whether considering booking theatre opera tickets or not, it is a place worth investigating. The operas are world class and the ballet productions are world renowned.
Babi Yar is the name of a ravine situated just outside Kiev, which today is a memorial to the 100,000 Ukrainians who were slaughtered by the Nazis during World War II. Groups of people were taken to Babi Yar and forced to line up along the ravine edge, where they were shot.
The House with Chimeras is a ‘gloomy house’ designed by architect Gorodetskiy in 1902 as a tribute to his daughter following her suicide. One of the first houses in the capital to be built in cement, the façade of this extraordinary mansion is decorated with sculptures of exotic animals such as elephants, rhinoceroses, frogs, and lizards crawling on the walls that moodily stare at people passing by.
May 17th- August 1st 2012
International Biennale of Contemporary Art, ‘Arsenale’, The Best of Times, The Worst of Times.
Rebirth and Apocalypse in Contemporary Art
Venue Mystetskyi Arsenal, 10 Lavrska Street, Kiev, Ukraine, 01010
tel./fax: +380 44 288 52 26,
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www.artarsenal.in.ua
www.art-arsenalfund.org
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