Sightseeing

The central streets of the city were renamed during the Soviet time in honor of the outstanding revolutionaries. (And it is interesting, the largest of them is in honor of German figures.) So the central street of the city has the name of Karl Marx. It is a very beautiful, wide and long parkway, which stretches east to west through the central part of the city. It was founded in the XVIII century and parts of its buildings are the actual decoration of the city. In the nucleus of the city is Zhovtneva square, on which is the majestic Cathedral that was founded by order of Katherine II (Russian empress) in 1787.

On the square, there are some remarkable buildings: the Museum of History, Diorama " Battle for the Dnieper River (Second World War)", and also the beautiful park in which you can rest in the hot summer. Walking down the hill to the Dnieper River, you will arrive in the large Taras Shevchenko Park (which is on the right bank of the river) and on Monastyrskiy Island. This island is one of the most interesting places in the city. In the IX century, the Byzantian monks based a monastery here. It was destroyed by Mongol-Tatars in the XIII century.

The compact "old town" does not exist in Dnipropetrovsk anymore. Many historic buildings and churches were destroyed in the Second World War and in Stalin's communist times in the 1930s.

However all of Central Avenue, some street-blocks on the main hill (the Nagornaya part) between Pushkina Prospekt and Embankment, and sections near Globy and Shevchenka parks have been untouched for 150 years. An evening walk through those parts of the city is very pleasurable...

The Dnieper River is a wonderful creation of nature that keeps the climate mild and the air fresh. You can see it from many points in Dnepropetrovsk. From any hill (there are 7 in the city) you will find a beautiful view of the river, islands, parks, outskirts, river banks and hills.
There was no need to build huge skyscrapers in the city in Soviet times. Powerful industries preferred to construct offices close to their main factories away from the centre of town. In the last ten years of independence the price of land in Ukraine has grown considerably. All the new office buildings are being built in the same architectural style as the old buildings...

The Preobrashensky cathedral (1830-35) It was constructed by an architect O. Zakharov. This monument is considered to have a very high architectural significance and value as it is a building that reflects traditions and techniques of the Russian classical school in its full swing. The foundation was laid in 1830, May 22. After the earth quake in 1888 some cracks were found in the walls of the cathedral, but it stood its ground whatsoever. It was badly damaged during the WW2, the upper part of the bell tower burnt. The cathedral was restored in 1975.

Potemkin Palace The palace of the prince Potemkin is one of the best architectural masterpieces of our city. It is situated in Shevchenko park- one of the most favorite places of rest. The palace was constructed by the outstanding Russian architect Starov, and at first it belonged to prince Potemkin, who was the governor of the region at that time.In times of Paul the first the palace was desolated and half destroyed. Later, in the 19 th century it was decided that the palace should be reconstructed. There was no roof, the majority of the columns were collapsed and there was practically nothing left from the inside decoration.After the revolution the palace was changed into the youth-palace. The fascist occupants destroyed it completely soon after. In 1952 the palace was reconstructed. The total area of the building is 5632 square meters. There is a concert hall there, lecture room, dancing hall, the cinema and the cafe.

The Monastyrsky Island On the Earth, in the centers of urbanized territories, there are some places visible to everybody and at the same time they are some kind of blanks, unexplored islands of uncertainty and mystery. In Dnepropetrovsk the Monastyrsky Island is such a blank spot. Attending Anastasia’s Tours you‘ll know the truth. This island saw plenty of different nations and cultures such as Scythians, Goths, Huns, Slavs, Avars, Vikings etc.

I.- II. Centures the island is uninhabited.

VI. cent. People and buildings are appeared in the island

1612 Monks live in the island (dozens), some monks lived in the caves. The inhabitants call this island Monastyrsky Island . There are forests, birds and many snakes in this island.

This place is famous for:

The most ancient granites (Archaeans) are on the surface. You can see such a phenomena only in Russia (Murmanskaya oblost) and here in Dnepropetrovsk .

If you will be at our tours with Anastasia you will see some rare plants- endemics.

There is a hypothesis that people who survived after Atlantida’s destruction were dispersing along the World. It is said that they had some energy sources – special balloons about meter in diameter, which were kept in dug-out places deep in the earth and which were kept there as holy magnets, meant to emphasize and foretell future events. One of such balloons was most likely kept in the mountain area of the “Monastyrsky” Island .

Globy Central Park, Shevchenka Park , Embankments, river beaches and islands are the favorite places of most of the townspeople. During the summer there are a great number of cafes along the wide Dnieper River (1 km. width approx.), on main streets, and in the parks.