The administration of «Nostalgia» tender thanks to the magistral staff of the Kiev Institute of Tourism for their help in organization of this excursion. www.itfpu.kiev.ua

www.itfpu.kiev.ua  E-mail: instur@gu.kiev.ua

Pinching melancholy and wrench thing in the soul – Nostalgia…
And who could think that someday one would be also visited by this feeling, than all of us are so strong, so independent in our choice, so free!.. And many of us left carelessly, not all but the majority. And we told our friends at parting: «Nostalgia?! No, I do not think someday I’ll be missing my Motherland». But the time flows and our native lands start calling and we see them in our dreams, and the heart is seized by unaccountable yearning to walk down our native city again. Just walk down… From end to end… to feel that native, our own thing, that has no name, but we are lack of one in a distant land. To walk down old Podol, gothic Pechersk, down the beloved old streets, familiar since our childhood, down bright shining Khreshchatyk; to lose oneself in fascination of parks and alleys; to breath in deeply fresh Dniper’s air; to watch how this strong and beautiful river flows to the Black Sea; to lift up one’s head and to see Kiev’s silent sky…
But, alas, alas, all of this is only dreams and all our efforts to come to the native city, even to see our relatives, are caved in, especially now at such restless time…
But sometimes the fate makes us surprises and gifts… You have no ability to visit Kiev now? So, Kiev’ll come to you by himself, and you should just say him: “Hallo!”

Unfortunately the abilities of Internet do not allow us to acquaint you with our admirable city to the full. But we are sure that familiarized with our modest work, you would like to see one of the most beautiful cities of Europe with your own eyes.

More than fifteen centuries have passed since the moment of Kiev’s foundation. We won’t describe its centuries-old history in details, but our excursion will be started with the place that is indissolubly tied with its history and is named – Starokievskaya hill. The place is situated at the cross-road of Vladimirskaya street, Desyatinaya street and Andreevsky Spusk. Having gone upstairs the granitic steps, you find yourself on the territory of the National historical museum of Ukraine.

The National museum of Ukrainian history

The National museum of Ukrainian history has been built on the territory of Kiev settlement of the ancient riches in 1937-1939 according to the architect I.Y. Karakis’ project. There are kept unique archeological, ethnographical and numismatic collections, pieces of art, black-letter books and great number of other exhibits in the museum. There are relics of the base of Desyatina (Assumption of Saint Our Lady) church in front of the building. The first stoned church of Kievskaya Rus has been built by craftsmen of ancient Rus and Byzantine in 989-996 during the period of Volodymyr Svyatoslavovich’s reign who had provided one tenth( desyatina – that is why such name of the hill origined) of prince’s income for its building. There also functioned the first school in Rus that was mentioned by the chronicler Nestor in his “The Tale of Bygone Years”.

The relics of the base of Desyatina church

Monument to the defenders of Desyatina church

The lot of Desyatina church is extremely tragical. In 1017 Kiev has соmе to harm because of the awful fire. Desyatina church has been also damaged. Re-edified in 1039 it was consecrated by metropolitan Pheopemt again. The next 130 years the church was not mentioned in chronicles. On the 6th of December 1240 khan Batyy’s hordes occupied Kiev and destroyed the church. Nowadays some part of the base of Desyatina church has been preserved.

An old linden grows not far from the place where Desyatina church used to be situated. It is presumed it was planted by metropolitan Petro Mogila in 1635 in the place of Desyatina church of 10th century that had been destroyed by hordes of khan Batyy. It is the true patriarch of the plant world considering average age of lindens is 150 years. The tree continues to flourish, spreading gentle race of linden’s bloom.

The relic of palace of the first part of 10th century (palace of princess Olga)

Making for the observing-ground situated near the Starokievskaya hill you can see the relic of palace of the first part of 10th century (palace of princess Olga). That is the “terem”- palace where princess Olga saw Derevlyan ambassadors and planed her vengeance for the death of prince Igor. The palace used to be the only one on the top of Starokievskaya hill and is the eldest stoned building.

Panorama of ancient Kiev (digital photo).

Having passed the place of situation of the palace of princess Olga you get to the observing-ground. A magnificent panorama can be seen from here. Your outlook covers hills and steep banks that the chronicled founders of Kiev prince of Polyan tribe Kiy, his brothers Shchek and Khoryv and their sister Lybed have seen 15 centuries ago. Shchekavyza and Khorevyza hills were named after them. The commemorative sign “The place where Russian land origined from” is situated in the middle part of the observing-ground. On the left hand the multistoried building of the “Trade house” built in Lvovskaya Square in 70s can be seen. On the right hand the building with pyramidal roof can not be unnoticed. Kiev author Victor Nekrasoff named it “Richard’s the Brave” castle, after the English king, hero of novel “Ivanhoe” by Valter Skott.

Trade house.	“The place where Russian land origined from”.	Panorama of Podol and the castle of “Richard the Brave”.

Panorama of Podol. In the middle – green bath-houses of Frolovsky nunnery.

From the right of Zamkovaya hill the green bath-houses of Frolovsky nunnery that have been known since 15th century stand out against panorama of Podol. The saint vulnerary water ejaculates constantly from the underground founts on the territory of Frolovsky nunnery. In the fullness of time Natalya Dolgorukova – the daughter of Field Marshal Boris Sheremetev who was an associate of Peter the Great, was novice of the Frolovsky nunnery.