While I was waiting for a friend to get into town, into Kyiv, Ukraine, I decided to walk over to Andrew’s Decent. But I never got that far, because I stumbled across this – Saint Vladimir Hill. A magnificent park on the steep bank of Dnieper. On the surface it looked like an adorable, little green lung, but as I walked further in among the trees, I realised it was a lot bigger than I had assumed at first glance. In addition to being a beautiful, tranquil space, it boasts excellent views – of the river, the pedestrian Park Bridge, which connects the city and Trukhaniv Island, the sandy beaches on the opposite bank, and a glimpse of Podil neighbourhood and beyond. After enjoying the panorama, I worked my way downhill, and I suddenly found myself next to an nifty looking pedestrian (also for cycling) bridge. With its concrete, glass and metal, it gives off a modern architectural vibe. Apparently parts of the floor are made of glass, but I didn’t spot it… Most likely I was too busy with looking up and away, as there are superb vistas from this site too. The bridge connects Saint Vladimir Hill and People’s Friendship Arch, so naturally I couldn’t leave without having a look at the 25 meter tall, half-circle shaped monument celebrating the anniversary of both Kyiv and the USSR.
Later when I met up with my friend, and we explored Andrew’s Decent and Podil, I was made aware the park is even bigger than the area I had visited. I had seen a fraction only, of the 10.6 hectares total. When we went on the funicular running between Podil and the upper town neighbourhoods, I had a hard time believing we exited in the same park.
The southeastern part of Saint Vladimir Hill, the bridge, and the arch is a short walk from the main square, Maidan Nezalezhnosti. I think you’ll spot the top of the arch from the square.
