- Kyiv. Panorama of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra
 - Yalta. View of V.Lenin Seafront and Marine passenger terminal
 - Poltava. Nobleman’s and Rural bank
 - Lviv. Eastern part of Rynok Square
 - Pochaiv. View of Assumption Lavra
 - Kharkiv. Derzhprom
 - Mukacheve. Vista of Pushkin Street
 - Chernivtsi. Theater Square

In the past Ukraine was traditionally considered an agrarian country, however, established views change in the course of history, and the country, which numbers more than 450 cities in which two thirds of population reside, changed its status long ago. In Ukrainian terrains there are many beautiful places, and you will make sure of it turning over the pages of our guide. Some of them are described in separate sections. Kyiv, the capital city of the State, is the first to start a narrative of Ukraine. Lviv and Kharkiv represent the west and the east of the country, Chernihiv and Odesa, respectively, the north and the south. Architecture and the local coloring of eastern, western, northern and southern parts of Ukraine are different to a large extent. Dignified Kyiv, trim Poltava, restrained Chernihiv, somewhat haughty Lviv, business-like Dnipropetrovsk, tidy Chernivtsi, respectable Kharkiv and Donetsk, concerned Zaporizhia, foppish Odesa – every city or town has its own character and identity.

 Architecture is called music in stone. And it is really so – the impregnable fortress in Kamyanets-Podilsky can be compared with a grandiose symphony, the ensemble of Bukovynian metropolitans’ residence, with a refined oratorio, and the well-proportioned bell-tower at Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, with a dynamic orchestra piece.

The Ukrainians can be proud of a great many architectural pearls created in the course of centuries. Particularly noteworthy are majestic fortresses and castles the construction of which was caused by the peculiarities of the geographical situation of the country located at the intersection of the worlds and civilizations. It is no mere chance that this system of fortifications was called “the Ukrainian shield of Europe” – it defended European states from the Mongols, Tatars, Turks and other aggressors for centuries. The best complexes have been preserved to our time, namely: the Old and New fortresses in Kamyanets-Podilsky, Mukacheve castle, Khotyn fortress, Genoese fortress in Sudak, and a few dozens of other structures. A story about each of them is found in an appropriate part of this guide.

As regards civil architecture, mention should be made of the palace-park complexes in Kachanivka and Sokyryntsi in Siverschyna region; the Crimean pearls in Alupka, Masandra, Livadia, and Bakhchisaray; Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa palaces, parks in Uman and Bila Tserkva, and so on.

The terrains of our country have preserved many examples of unique wooden architecture – temples, dwellings, household premises and production structures transferred to scansens of Kyiv, Lviv, Chernivtsi, Uzhgorod, Pereyaslav-Khmelnytsky, and located in villages and towns of Ukraine.

Ukrainian sacral architecture has very old traditions – it embraces Orthodox cloisters (three of them have the status of Lavra – Kyiv-Pechersk in Kyiv, Pochaiv in Ternopil region, and Sviatohirsk in Donetsk region); Roman Catholic churches (real architectural masterpieces were built in Lviv, Kyiv, Fastiv, Berdychiv); Moslem mosques in Yevpatoria, Old Crimea, Izmail; Karaite praying houses in Bakhchisaray, Yevpatoria, and Kyiv; synagogues in Odesa, Kyiv, Lviv, Uzhgorod… The diversity of styles and forms reflects a true religious freedom.

In this brief introduction we do not intend to provide historical data or enumerate sights – we just invite you, dear reader, for a breathtaking tour around Ukraine!

Here are a few words about the guide’s structure. The book is made up of 27 sections. Each of them is devoted to a separate region, which usually coincides with the borders of the administrative-territorial division of the country, but sometimes there are discrepancies – for instance, the itinerary Nizhyn-Baturin was added to Sumy region, while it actually runs through the territory of Chernihiv oblast, but is historically closely linked with Hlukhiv of Sumy oblast. This fact will hinder our trip in no way, but will preserve the integrity and logicality of the historical sketch. Some oblasts are united in one section (for example, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhia), which also has a historical background. Sections are divided into itineraries under through numeration – so proceeding from the contents it is easy to find an appropriate story of the sights you are interested in. Each section contains practical information – addresses and telephone numbers of railway and bus stations, hotels, and so on.

The authors and the publisher made every effort to make this book possible. We would like to thank you beforehand for your comments, remarks and more accurate definitions, which you can mail to the address info@baltia.com.ua Your remarks will be taken into consideration without fail for new edition. We wish you a happy and interesting trip!