Smolensk in Russia

28 October 2022 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  6 minutes

Philharmonic Concert Hall © Борис Мавлютов/cc-by-sa-3.0

Philharmonic Concert Hall © Борис Мавлютов/cc-by-sa-3.0

Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River, 360 kilometers (220 mi) west-southwest of Moscow. The city has been destroyed several times throughout its long history because it was on the invasion routes of various empires. Smolensk is known for its electronics, textiles, food processing, and diamond faceting industries. On April 10, 2010, a Tu-154 military jet carrying Polish president Lech Kaczyński, his wife, and many notable political and military figures crashed in a wooded area near Smolensk while approaching the local military airport. All ninety-six passengers died immediately on impact. The purpose of the visit was to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre.   read more…

Kiev on river Dnepr

25 June 2015 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  8 minutes

Ministry of Foreign Affair of Ukraine © Dmytro Sergiyenko/cc-by-sa-1.0

Ministry of Foreign Affair of Ukraine © Dmytro Sergiyenko/cc-by-sa-1.0

Kiev is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of July 2013 was 2,847,200, making Kiev the 8th largest city in Europe. Kiev’s most famous historical architecture complexes are the St. Sophia Cathedral and the Kiev Pechersk Lavra (Monastery of the Caves), which are recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Noteworthy historical architectural landmarks also include the Mariyinsky Palace (designed and constructed from 1745 to 1752, then reconstructed in 1870), several Orthodox churches such as St. Michael’s Cathedral, St. Andrew’s, St. Vladimir’s, the reconstructed Golden Gate and others.   read more…

Mariyinsky Palace in Kiev

6 August 2014 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Palaces, Castles, Manors, Parks Reading Time:  5 minutes

© DDima/cc-by-sa-1.0

© DDima/cc-by-sa-1.0

Mariyinsky Palace is the official ceremonial residence of the President of Ukraine in Kiev and adjoins the neo-classical building of the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) of Ukraine. It is a Baroque palace on the hilly bank of the Dnieper River.   read more…

Return to TopReturn to Top