Five Wonders of Ukraine

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History&Culture

• Kiev

Days: 7 Book This Tour

Day 1

• Arrival in Kyiv. Meet and greet at the airport
• Transfer from the airport to the hotel in Kyiv
• Check-in to the hotel
• Kyiv city tour including inside visit to St. Sophia Cathedral  

St. Sophia Cathedral (1037) is the most vivid example of the Old Rus architecture and monumental art for this place, was built and decorated when the state of Kyiv Rus was living through the peak of its prosperity. Here grand princes were coronated and buried, formal ceremonies and receptions of envoys were held, the first known library in ancient Rus and the first school for boys and girls were founded by Grand Prince of Kyiv Yaroslav the Wise. The Cathedral was known as a seat of Kyiv Metropolitan. The interior has survived from the 11th century and there have been practically no alterations. Mosaics and frescos of the 11th century, executed with the unique technology, which depict Scriptural scenes, individual figures of Church Fathers, Apostles, warriors and maidens, are of a great value.

• Lunch in a local restaurant
• Time at leisure

Day 2

• 9:00 Breakfast in the hotel
• 10:00 – 14:00 City tour to Kyiv Cave Monastery including visit to the Golden Treasury Museum and Museum of Microminiatures

Kyiv Cave Monastery is an Orthodox monastery in Kyiv. The Cave Monastery is rich in architectural monuments. Its best-known sacred objects were the relics of its saintly monks. The caves (some of them dating from the Neolithic period) in which they lived and were buried, and from which the monastery's name is derived, form two underground labyrinths of tunnels, cells, and catacombs excavated in soft sandstone and loess. Several underground churches and chapels are located at the Kyiv Cave Monastery.
Golden Treasury Museum contains a collection of Scythian Golden Jewellery (very similar to the collection that is exhibited at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg - but more exciting because of the unique item - the Golden Pectoral (neck lace) of Scythian Tsars with sophisticated carving - weight over 3 kilos. The museum also contains a collection of “Treasures of the Church” that was expropriated by the Soviets in 1926 and stored at the museum forever since.
The Museum of Microminiatures. Mykola Syadristyi has created about 100 miniatures with instruments he made himself. At first, he spent a whole year to create one or two miniatures. Now, it takes him nearly a month of painstaking work to create one piece - whether it is baby swallows inside a nest made of half a poppy seed, or a red rose on a green stem 0.05 millimeter (0.002 inch) thick, inside a human hair that has been polished so thoroughly that the flower can be clearly seen through it).

• 14:00 Lunch in a local restaurant
• Time at leisure

Day 3

• 9:00 Breakfast in the hotel. Check-out from the hotel
• 10:00 – 16:00 Day Tour to Sofiyivskyi Park in Uman (approx. 220 km)

Sofiyivsky Park was laid in 1796 by the Polish noble Stanislaw Potocki and named after his wife, Sofia, of Greek descent, to whom he eventually gave the park as a present. Sophia herself was said to take part in designing some sections of the park – she was the one who introduced ancient Greek and Roman mythological motifs. There are many picturesque areas in the park including waterfalls, fountains, ponds and a stone garden. At present the park occupies a territory of almost 155 hectares (1 hectare equals 2,5 acres).

• 16:00 Depart Uman for trip to Kamyanets-Podilsky (approx. 360 km)
• 21:00 Arrival in Kamyanets-Podilsky. Check-in to the hotel

Day 4

• 9:00 Breakfast in the hotel
• 10:00 – 15:00 Kamyanets-Podilsky City Tour with inside visit to Old Fortress and New Castle.

According to the medieval chronicles the fortress in Kamyanets-Podilsky was built in the second half of the 14th century by the Lithuanian prince Koryatovych. Kamyanets-Podilsky is a town that has preserved the spirit of the Middle Ages. Its impressive fortress is a landmark in the history of construction of fortified places and strongholds. The town`s scenic beauty is enhanced by the Polish and Russian Gates, Armenian Bastions, Turkish Bridge (enigma of centuries), Dominican Roman-Catholic Church (14-17century), Trinitarian Roman-Catholic Church, Petropavlivska (Peter and Paul’s) Church, Mykolayivska Church (14th century), Polish and Armenian Market Squares, and other ancient monuments.

• 15:00 Lunch in a local restaurant
• Time at leisure

Day 5

• 9:00 Breakfast in the hotel
• 10:00 – 15:00 Excursion to the Khotyn’s Fortress and Khotyn Town: St. Trinity’s Trenches, towers and dungeons, the Entrance Gate.

Khotyn was a trade hub in the Middle Ages, fortunately situated at the crossroads of trade routs. It is believed to have been founded in the 11th century. Important architectural landmarks within the city include the Khotyn Fortress, constructed in the 13-15th centuries (new fortress started in 1325, major improvements in 1380s and 1460s), and two 15th century constructions: the Prince's Palace (Palatul Domnesc) and the city's clock tower

• 15:00 Lunch in a local restaurant. Return to the hotel
• Time at leisure

Day 6

• Breakfast in the hotel.
• 12:00 Check-out from the hotel. Depart Kamyanets-Podilsky for trip to Kyiv
• 18:00 Arrival in Kyiv. Check-in to the hotel
• Time at leisure

Day 7

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Time at leisure
• Check-out from the hotel
• Transfer to the Boryspil airport