Seven Wonders of Ukraine

   You wonder what to see in Ukraine? Don't waste your time. Use the list of seven wonders of Ukraine - it is a list of cultural and historical places that will excite you.

Monument "Motherland" in Kiev

   Taking the advantage of warm nice days we visit interesting places in Kiev to tell you more about them. 

   Last week we visited the monument "Motherland".  

   Statue "Motherland", which stands in Kiev on the right bank of the Dnieper. It is a part of exposition of the "National Museum of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945." that was opened in 1981, on the Day of Victory complex was opened by CPSU General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev.

   The sculpture is installed on the Dnipro River, so the figure of the motherland is visible even from the most distant points of Kiev. An interesting fact is that the height of the monument exceeds the height of the monument to the Statue of Liberty in America. The monument is 4th lagest statue in the world, when the Statue of Liberty is only 6th. 

  The sculpture of the Motherland from the pedestal to the tip of the sword reaches 62 meters and overall height with pedestal is 102 meters. In one hand she has a 16-foot, 9-ton sword in the other - shield size 13 by 8 m that weigs 13 tons with the coat of arms of the Soviet Union on it. Skeleton sculpture begins at a depth of 17.8 m, which takes concrete well diameter of 34 meters. The total mass of all-welded construction reaches 450 tonns. There are working elevators in the middle of the statue.

Kiev Pechersk Lavra - architectural masterpiece

   Kiev called the city of domes. In fact, the church architecture of Kiev captivates and lures. None of the pilgrims or just a tourist will not remain indifferent to its beauty and grandeur. 

   A special place among ecclesiastical architecture takes the Kiev Pechersk Lavra.

   The wonderful ensemble of the monastery, crowned with almost hundred-meter bell tower - it is an integral and significant part of the skyline of the city,that witnessed many generations.

   Kiev Pechersk Lavra is one of the first monasteries in Kiev Rus. Founded in 1051and to this day is a testament to the talent and effort of many people. The monastery became the center of Slavic Christianity, and a place of pilgrimage. 

Open-air museums - area of history and culture.

     Ukraine is a very modern country. If you come to Kiev today - you will see that every one has a mobile phone or even two. Laptop, IPhone, Ipad - is not a nonsense here. Cars vary from cheap to expensive and rare items.  Skyscraperі are rising every day higher and higher. Except for the monuments of architecture that have survived to our days, remind us the ancient history of Kiev and about the impressive age of the city.

     But there is a simple way to travel back to past. Just go to one of the open-air museums or historical parks in Kiev or outside the city.  

    There are several places you can visit. Let me tell you about them.

    "Museum of Folk Architecture and Life in Ukraine," usually called "Pirogovo Museum". 

      It is an open-air museum. It can be described as Ukraine is in a nutshell, the historic landscape. 
    The museum is divided into historical regions displaying terrain and historical flavor. Here you can find more than 300 pieces of folk architecture and construction. Among them are traditional houses, windmills, workshops and even one of the oldest, but still existing authentic churches. 
     In Pirogovo you can not only enjoy nature and historic architecture but ride horses, play Ukrainian folk games, enjoy a delicious meal, take part in a festival. In summer and autumn, often confined to national holidays, festivals of Folk Arts are held. Blacksmiths, seamstresses, potters and other artisans demonstrate their skills. 
     If you want to enjoy the nature and the atmosphere of traditional Ukraine - Pirogovo is the place to go to. 
Website: www.pirogovo.com.ua - unfortunately not English version.