Podil
Kyiv's Podil is a historic neighborhood in the city. It is also the name of one of Kyiv's raions (a unit of administrative subdivision of Kyiv). It is one of the oldest neighborhoods of Kyiv, the birthplace of city's trade and industry.
It still contains many architectural and historical landmarks, and new archeological sites are still being revealed.
Numerous attractions of Podil particularly include:
• Frolivsky Monastery
• Pokrovsky Monastery
• National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy
• House of Ivan Mazepa
• House of Peter the Great
• Zamkova Hora hill
• Kyiv River Port, main port on the Dnieper
• Kyiv funicular
• Poshtova Square
 | | The Kyiv-Mohyla Academy |
National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy
The Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (Kyiv-Mogila Academy), was one of the oldest and the most distinguished academic and theological schools in Eastern Europe. It was established in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1632 by Petro Mohyla (Peter Mogila), a Metropolitan of Kyiv and Galicia. It played an important role in transmitting Renaissance ideals from Western Europe through Poland to Ukraine and Russia.
The Fountain of Samson or Felitsiyal is a Ukrainian Baroque fountain in the Podil raion of Kyiv. It was constructed in the 18th Century, later demolished by the Bolsheviks either in 1934 or 1935, and rebuilt in 1981.
The Kyiv River Port is the main river port in Podil, a raion of Kyiv, located on the right bank of the Dnieper River and the Poshtova Square.
Since ancient times the Podil region was an important trade center, especially by water routes. Arounde the 19th Century, steamboats started to navigate along the Dnieper, and a row of quays were built along the bank of the river. In 1953-1961 a new riverboat station was built on the square by the architechts: V. Gopkalo, V. Ladny, and others. The building has a mast-like tower which resembles a steamboat tower.
The Kyiv Funicular serves the city of Kyiv, connecting the Uppertown or an Old City (historical center), and the lower historical neighborhood of Podil through the steep hill overseeing the Dnieper River. The funicular was constructed during 1902-1905, and was first opened to the public on the 7th of May, 1905
Zamkova Hora in Kyiv, Ukraine is a historical landmark in the center of the city. The first castle of the Kyivan Rus Dukes was built there in the Middle Ages. Some important events of Ukrainian history took place on the hill. According to some researchers, Zamkova Hora also has a mystical prehistory, supposedly being one of the lysi hory ("bald mountains") - the sites of the witch gatherings. Geographically, it is really "bald" (lacking trees) from several sides.
In the 18th century a cemetery was established on the hill (now abandoned).
It is now a small landscape park in Podil Raion still containing interesting grave monuments. Zamkova Hora is also one of two hills that border the Andriyivskyy Descent.
Reclaiming the mystical essence of the hill, local satanist groups conduct their ceremonies there since late 1980s. Small ritual structures were covertly built on site.
|
