20 July 2010, 11:12
M.V. Tomenko, the Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Initiator of the Action Wonders of Ukraine" conducted on Monday, 19 July a Press Tour round the Historic Places of Kyiv that are nominated to be the Best in the Framework of the Action "7 Wonders of Ukraine: Castles, Fortresses and Palaces"
In the course of the press tour its participants had an opportunity to visit two unique historical palaces: Mariinskyi and Klovskii and also the biggest fortification of the capital - Kyiv Fortress.
The first station of the press tour was the ceremonial residence of the President of Ukraine Mariinskyi Palace. This palace represents Ukraine on international level as a state residence, though now it is under restoration.
Situated in the government centre Mariinsky, (Tsar's) Palace was built in 1752 at the request of Empress Elizabeth, it was originally used for ceremonial and festive occasions. The palace has two storeys and large wings which form a large yard. The palace ensemble included gardens, greenhouses and a confectionary. Many extravagant balls were held in the palace when nobles came to visit. Damaged by fire in the early nineteenth century, it was restored between 1868 and 1870. The interior of the palace contains numerous art works and luscious decorations.
Second station of the tour was an elegant building in Lypky district, that used to be a museum of Kyiv history and now it is the building of the Supreme Court of Ukraine. Klovskii palace was built in 152-1756 for the needs of Kyevo-Pecherska Lavra upon the project of architects P. Neeliv and S. Kovnir. The building is executed in Baroque Style. In 1770 there was a hospital and later gymnasium. As the majority of historical monuments that have been preserved till our times, the palace suffered a lot of changes, fires and vandalism attacks.
The last station of the tour was the complex of the fortification buildings in Kyiv that had been formed during 15 centuries Kyiv Fortress. It contains: Kyevo-Pecherska Lavra, territory of the national museum of Great Patriotic War History, "Arsenal" plant and many other objects: ramparts and fortification walls.
ОгThe Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and initiator of the action 7 Wonders of Ukraine declared: "It is paradox, though the objects in Kyiv are least visited." Speaking on Mariinskyi palace, M. Tomenko mentioned that it can be connected with the fact it is positioned as the official residence of the President of Ukraine.
M. Tomenko also is convinced that the entire Fortification complex in Kyiv is one of the biggest memorials of the fortification buildings and central power under the leadership of O. Omelchenko in its time invested a lot of money in these buildings. "We should use the whole potential of the Kyiv fortress", M. Tomenko declared and explained that on its territory one can conduct the divergent cultural events and festivals.