Kyiv

Kyiv is the capital of Ukraine and one of the largest cities in Europe. Located on the Dnieper river, it is a vibrant, modern and growing city with a current population of over 3 million people. It is the largest cultural, scientific and industrial center of Ukraine, and one of the largest in Europe. People in Kyiv like in the rest of Ukraine are very hospitable, friendly, and delighted to introduce Slavic culture to their foreign guests.

Kyiv has come a long way from an ancient settlement of nomadic tribes to becoming one of the largest cities in the world. Kyiv is a very attractive tourist destination with its invaluable historical and cultural monuments and architectural ensembles. Cathedrals are stunning with their beauty and many are close to ten centuries old. Numerous parks and gardens of Kyiv charm and captivate.

The legend says that Kyiv was founded by three brothers, Kyi, Schek and Khoryv, and their sister Lybid’ at the end of the 5th-beginning of the 6th centuries. Kyiv was the capital of Kyivan Rus’ in 9th-12th centuries and is therefore often called the mother of Slavic cities. During the 11th-12th centuries, ancient Kyivan Rus' reached its greatest period of ascendancy and was the most powerful state in Europe. By the 11th century, Kyiv was one of the largest centers of civilization in the Christian world. At that time, there were about 400 churches, 8 markets and more than 50,000 inhabitants in Kyiv. For comparison, at the same time the population of London, Hamburg and Gdansk was about 20,000 people combined. Kyiv was among the most prospering craft and shopping centers of Europe.

Today Kyiv is a very modern and vibrant city with a lot of young professional people. Many governmental institutions are located in the capital. Foreign language can often be heard on the streets of Kyiv as it is a major tourist attraction as well as home to some international businesses. Despite its modern life style, Kyiv is still filled with the spirit of its long history. Modern buildings are intertwined with ancient architectural ensembles that have been there for centuries.