Independence square
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The Independence Square, or MaidanNezalezhnosti, is the central square in Kiev, the main and the most beautiful one. Parades, concerts, festivals and other city arrangements and holidays take place on this square. It contains six fountains, Independence Column and artificial waterfall. The Independence Square has much to offer: the huge building with the tower and chimes, the Trade Union Association Office and other attractions. The left side of the Independence square is covered with granite. The splendid panoramic view of Old Kiev opens from the upper floors of the square buildings. One can see the domes of Sofia Cathedral built in the 11th century, Andreevskaya Church built in the 18th century, City Parliament, the Central Mall, and a lot of administrative buildings. A great amount of shops, hotels and cafes are situated on the Independence square. Two metro stations, Kreschatik and MaidanNezalezhnosti, are also situated nearby.
One of the fountains of the square is decorated with statues of legendary brothers Kie, Schek, Horiv and their sister Libed. According to Nikon's Russian Primary Chronicle they chose the place for the city foundation and decided to name it in honor of the elder brother Kie. The sculpture composition on the central square of the Ukrainian capital depicts four founders of the city.
Till the end of the 10th century the site of Independence square used to be occupied by forests. In the 18th century on the plot of land the Pecherskie Gate was put up, but the square still looked like an abandoned lot called Goat Swamp. In 1833 the gate was destroyed, but in the modern pedestrian subway system the basements of the Pecherskie Gate are preserved.
One of the best notable decorations of the central square is the Independency Column topped with a statue of Archangel Mikhail, who is considered to be the saint patron of Kiev. In front of the column, at the end of the square there is an arch decorated with the statue of Archangel with sword and shield. Another attraction of the square is 5,000-sprays fountain called Friendship of Nations designed by architect Komarovsky.
The site of Independence Square used to be the border of Kiev fortified with defense ramparts. Archeologists also found old parts of a water mill there. The first large stone building was constructed on the place in the middle of the 19th century: it was designed by architect Beretti and housed the Province Noblemen' Assembly. In the 20th century the square got its modern look.
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KRESCHATIK
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Kreschatik is the most famous and one of the busiest streets in Kiev. It is a wide boulevard with plenty of chestnut trees. It is hard to believe that some time ago on the site of Kreschatik used to be a valley and a river surrounded by forest. The valley was called Kreshataya (Crossed) because it was intersected by many ravines. It was one of the favorite hunting places of Kiev princes. There is a version, according to which Kreschatik was called so in honor of Russia's baptizing ("krest" means "cross" in Russian), but it is not reliable enough. Along the bank of the river through the valley an important trade route passed. In the end of the 18th century the first construction appeared on the right side of the road. Gradually left side of the road was also built up with dwelling houses, and in 1805 the first Kiev Theater appeared in the street. Nowadays on the site of the theater the Ukrainian House is situated.
Kreschatik got its final modern shape in 1837. It stretches from European Square till Bessarabia Square and contains many important trade buildings, bank departments, luxurious restaurants, hotels and exchange house.
The architectural look of the Kreschatik Street was changing gradually. For a long time beautiful stone buildings adjoined haulm-roofed houses and clay-walled huts. In the puddles one could see pigs, and it was impossible to cross Kreschatik without special devices, such as stilts. There were people called bosyaki, or tramps, who took money for carrying people from one side of Kreschatik to another. The situation changed after canalization system installation. The street was paved with granite cubes and became elegant and fashionable.
By the end of the 19th century Kreschatik became the main Kiev thoroughfare. It was the place where the venues famous all over the country, such as Semadeni confectionary and Tarasova's dairy were located. The popular stores and restaurants turned into sources of the freshest news, as their owners received English, Belgium, German, French, Petersburg and Moscow newspapers and magazines two or three days earlier than the rest of the city. Nice buildings and refined street lamps, monuments to Alexander the Liberator and Stolipin made Kreschatik a very charming street. The first tram in the country went along 
Kreschatik Street.
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The fate of Kreschatik during the World War I and the World War II was tragic: the street was badly damaged and destroyed. In 1943, immediately after Kiev liberation, reconstruction works on Kreschatik started. After the works were finished, the street became "higher and wider" than it used to be. Today its buildings perfectly harmonize with surrounding landscape, and Kreschatik impresses as a single whole.
Nowadays Kreschatik ranges among the major attractions of Kiev. The citizens of the city adore this street, and the guests of Kiev try to visit it and feel its charming atmosphere first of all. Such Kreschatik buildings as Kiev City Council, Central Department Store, National Philharmonic, as well as other administrative constructions, stores, hotels and metro stations deserve special attention of Kiev guests.
PECHERSK-LIPKI
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To the south-east of Kreschatik Street there is a height that in the old days used to be called Klov after the Klov creek that rounded it. Nowadays the former Klov height consists of two districts, which are Pechersk and Lipki. The main thoroughfare of the region, Gryshevskogo Street, begins at the Kievo-PecherskayaLavra, which gave the name to Pechersk, and leads to the Evropeyskaya, or European, Square.
Pechersk is an old district that contains many architectural sights, historical buildings and monuments, including Arsenal of Pecherskaya Fortress, the grandeur building of Soviet of People's Commissars, the Museum of Ukrainian Art shaped as a Greek temple.
Lipki is a historical area of Pechersk. In 1744 the lime-tree grove was planted on this place, so it was called Lipki, which means little lime-trees. Russian Empress Elizabeth chose the site for her summer residence and ordered court architect BartholomeoRastrelli to build a palace for her. Nowadays the citizens of Kiev and the guests of the city can admire the beauty of Mariinsky Palace, which is the miniature replica of French Versailles. Kiev noble families were attracted by perspective of having their mansions close to the Royal palace, so they started to put up their palaces close to the Mariinsky palace. Lipki became aristocratic region, where governors of Russian provinces and their families, as well as the richest persons of those times lived.
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In Lipki there is Klovsky Palace that was put up in 1756 and intended for honorable guests of Kievo-PecherskayaLavra. Now the palace contains the exposition of Kiev History Museum. In 1833 the lime-tree grove was cut and the district became the administrative center of the city. The house of governor general and his chancellery, the mansion of Kiev Commander-in-Chief, bank departments were located in Lipki. Traditions that were founded at the beginning of the 18th century are carefully kept today, and Lipki still remains an administrative district of the Ukrainian capital: Ukrainian President Administration, Supreme Soviet, National Bank, Government House and other important government buildings are situated in this district.
Pechersk and Lipki are very nice places for walking. Here old restored mansions adjoin new houses, and green trees help escaping summer heat. There are several houses that have unusual names. For example, the mansion built at the beginning of the 20th century in Art Nouveau style is called the House of Crying Widow. It was named after the decoration element of facade representing the face of a beautiful woman. When it rains the water drops run down woman's face and create an impression of crying lady. Another unusual construction is called Chocolate House. The building used to belong to patron of art Mogilzhev. The weird name of the house could be explained by its brown color and facade decorations that look like chocolate segments. The building used to be Wedding Palace.
Recently the streets of Pechersk and Lipki were returned their original names, and nowadays one can enjoy walking along the old lanes and discover new nooks of Kiev history. Such streets as Institutskaya, Shelkovichnaya, Luteranskaya and Bankovskaya are especially charming.
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PODOL
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Podol is an old district of Kiev, where craftsmen and fishermen used to live. The district was formed after fire of 1811, when all the wooden constructions burnt down. Several slopes, including the famous AndreevskySpusk, lead to Podol. The compositional center of Podol is large Kontraktovaya Square, where each house is interesting in its own way. Since 1798 the square was the place for al Russian fairs, and for the needs of customers the Merchants' Yard was put up. It contained 50 stores with various goods and products. Unfortunately the original building didn't survive until today, and the new building of the same look was constructed. Near the Merchants' Yard there is the fountain Samson, designed by Ukrainian architect Grigorovich-Barsky in 1749. The fountain is object of many legends, one of which says that the one who tries "Samson water" will stay in Kiev forever.
In this old district of Kiev there is the block of Kievo-Mogilyanskaya academy that was founded in 1632 and became the center of Orthodox education of Slavonic people. Such historical persons as Lomonosov, Skovoroda, Miloradovitch and many other studied in the academy.
In Podol there is a monument to outstanding Ukrainian philosopher GrigoriySkovoroda. He is famous for wandering around Ukraine and teaching people the laws of morality. He was against ostentatious religious devotions and propagated harmonious union of faith and mind.
In Podol there are many attractions. Among them is functioning Florovsky Convent built in the 15th century and restored in the 19th century, elegant Iliinskaya Church that was built on the very place where ambassadors of prince Igor took an oath while making peace with Greeks. Nikola Pritisk Church, which is functioning now, looks like an old wooden Ukrainian temple. And when one is inside he or she might feel the atmosphere of the past.
Near the Florovsky Convent used to be the first drug store in Kiev. Nowadays the building contains the museum of pharmaceutics and one of the largest drug stores in the city.
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