Andriyivsky Uzviz – The Most Charming Street
Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, is a delightful city to visit. There are so many attractions and historical sights to see there, you will definitely need a couple of days to get through it all. One of these well-known attractions is the Andriyivsky Uzviz or, as it is endearingly called by the local residents, 'the most charming street'. Thousands of tourists come and visit this fascinating road, which is full of Kyivan history, every year.
The name of the street, when literally translated into English, means ‘Andrew’s Ascent’. The name was derived from a beautiful and intricate church built from 1749 to 1754, called St. Andrew’s Church. The church and the hill it is located on have also been called ‘Kyiv’s Montemarte’ because of its appeal to artisans, artists and Kyiv’s nobility, who have made this area home.
Many find a visit to the Andriyivsky Uzviz a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of modern city life. Not only is it filled with remnants from the past, but it is a popular marketplace where you can purchase almost anything that you may desire. Some of the more popular tourist items on display include old Wehrmacht medals, which date all the way back to the early twentieth century. There are also banners supporting communism and busts of Lenin, a revolutionary thinker and a popular political figure.
If you enjoy shopping then the month of May is a great time for you to visit. The town comes alive as they celebrate the ‘Days of Kyiv’ especially if you head down to the Uziz. There are various artists, acrobats and street entertainers keeping everyone amused and hoping for a couple of coins as people pass by. The Andriyivsky Uzviz becomes filled with locals, tourists and the usual vendors selling their wares so there are lots of things to buy.
Andriyivsky Uzviz was the original road that took you from the commercial center near the docks situated in Podil all the way to the Upper City where all the nobility reside. The ambiance of the city and the cobbled streets of the Uzviz take you back to a beautiful time in history that has changed very little since those days.
