Andriivs'kyi descent

The most famous street in Kiev drops down the sharp slope from the Upper Town to the Podil quarter on the Dnieper. At the top, St Andrew’s Church is .. Read more »in an opulent Baroque style and dates to the middle of the 18th century. You can catch a funicular up from Podil, or inch your way up the cobblestone street if you’re feeling fresh. The architect was Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, an Italian who made his name in Russia and the Baltic, designing the Winter Palace in St Petersburg. From there make your way down through a neighbourhood known as the “Montmartre of Kiev”, not just because of the steep topography but also the arty ambience and evocative 19th-century architecture. There are plenty of chic cafes to call in at, and stalls by the street sell paintings in summer. Andriyivskyy Descent is also the location for the Kiev Day celebrations at the end of May