St. Andrew’s Church

You'll find St Andrew's at the top of Andriyivskyy Descent, and if you're walking up the hill you'll have seen it long before you get there - the big dome and the cluster of smaller cupolas stand out from anywhere in Podil. It doesn't look like much of an attraction from the street, but don't let that put you off.

The church was built between 1747 and 1754 to a design by the Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli, who worked in Russia and is known for Late Baroque - heavy on decoration and unapologetically extravagant. He brought all of that here, and the interior is more or less entirely gold and red. It's one of the few examples of Elizabethan Baroque you'll come across.

Why It's Here

The site matters more than the building. Andriyivskyy Descent connects Kyiv's Upper Town with Podil, the city's old commercial quarter, and this spot is where Andrew the Apostle is said to have foretold the future of the place. That's what made it a foundation point for Christianity in the Slavic lands, and it's why a church of this scale sits on an awkward, steep hill.

The church is now part of the National Sanctuary "Sophia of Kyiv", a preserve that looks after a group of museum complexes, and it operates as a museum in its own right. It was under major reconstruction from 2010 and was later granted to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. It's open to the public again now.

Go for the observation deck around the base even if churches aren't your thing - it's the best view you'll get over Podil and the river without paying for one. Landscape Alley is five minutes along the ridge if you want more of the same view with sculptures attached.

For food nearby, PR Bar and Za Dvumya Zaytsami are both a short walk and both do European dishes.