We conduct sightseeing tours around Dnipro, where you get acquainted with the history of the city and see the main attractions, such as: Transfiguration Cathedral, City Duma, Catherine Mile, Menorah and others. Our route: Yavornytsky Avenue – Heroes of the Maidan Square – Yekaterynoslavsky Boulevard – Soborna Square. The tour is pedestrian (passes in the center) or pedestrian-car (center + promenade).
Duration – 2-3 hours.
A sightseeing tour around Dnipro is a popular route for the first-time visitors to the city, those who arrived for a couple of days on a business trip or just passed by Dnipro, formerly known as Dnipropetrovsk.
Whenever I’m visiting a new place for the first time , I want to see everything at once. However, if you are restricted by time, then of course, you should see the most popular and the most significant sights and attractions. What does the sightseeing tour around Dnipro have to offer?
It’s just so simple! After all, the lion’s share of all ancient architectural monuments is concentrated on the main artery of the city – the Dmytro Yavornytskyi avenue.
The 5-km long central city avenue is one of the oldest roads in Dnipro. Among the sights located on the avenue and the nearby streets, one must visit the historical museum, the church of St. Joseph the Betrothed, the main post office, the building of the city municipality and other historical monuments that have remained till now.
Near the walls of the historical museum you will find the largest collection of the oldest sculptures in Ukraine, known as the “stone women”. Among them: the stone sculptures named “Natalia” and “Kernosovske”, which have no analogues in all of Europe. Also here are you can see the Eneolithic statues, as well as the stone women from the times of the Scythians and the Polovtsians.
Near the museum, there is a unique object – the “Battle for the Dnieper” diorama, which is one of the largest in the world and is dedicated to the events of the Second World War.
The avenue is adjacent to the Heroes of the Maidan Square, the Cathedral and the Trinity Square. The Heroes of Maidan Square is the main city square where concerts, festivals and various events take place. During the Christmas season, the main Christmas tree of the city is established there. The most beautiful square in Dnipro is the Cathedral Square with its main highlight – the Preobrazhenskyi Cathedral, built in the style of classicism. Right behind the Heroes of the Maidan Square you will see the Trinity Square with the eponymous Holy Trinity Cathedral built in the XIX century.
Dnipro has also got its Montmartre – the 160-m long Katerynoslavskyi Boulevard. For its architectural beauty, the citizens called it the corner of Europe. The Katerynoslavskyi Boulevard became the main landmark of Dnipro, as well as a favorite place for promenades and time out. There are all kinds of shops, cozy coffee shops, lounge bars and expensive restaurants. The boulevard’s highlights are the fountain alley and the stone benches.
The Menorah is another prominent building in Dnipro. It is a Jewish complex in the form of seven menorah-towers with an area of 50 thousand square meters, which made it the largest one in the world. On the roof of one of the Menorah towers, there is a 63-m high observation deck opening a stunning view of the city. The complex houses art galleries, offices, souvenir shops, cafes, restaurants and a hotel. Three floors of the Menorah have become “The Memory of the Jewish People and the Holocaust in Ukraine” Museum, which is the third largest memorial complex in the world.
The pride of Dnipro is its embankment, which today is the longest one in Europe (20 km) and has long been the main landmark of the city. Walking along the embankment, you will see the glass “Ball of Wishes”, the light and music fountain, the longest “family” bench in Ukraine and much more. From the embankment one can see the Monastery Island, where “The Roaring River Wall” waterfall is located.
Dnipro is famous as the city of fountains. You will not find so many fountains as in any city of Ukraine. Here you can see cascading, floating, really tiny fountains and, of course, light and music one. Each of them is beautiful in its own way and fascinates with the magic of the water element.
We suggest that you make sure of that by yourself. Come to this wonderful city, located on the Dnieper River and book a couple of hours’ sightseeing tour around the Dnipro in order to enjoy its splendor.
The Palace of Healthcare
The Palace of Health – the building of a polyclinic in the style of neoclassicism, built in 1927 (architect A. Krasnoselsky). It was also called the Palace of Prevention. The institution was opened for the 10th anniversary of the Soviet power in 1927, but the construction was completely completed in 1929. It was intended for comprehensive medical care for the workers of the plant named after. Petrovsky. There were provided facilities for treatment, staff and visitors, as well as for conducting lectures.
The building was a three-storyed extended building, divided into three parts. The peculiarity of the building was that the central part of the building is half the size of the side parts. The main entrance is decorated with a grand granite staircase. Pompous structure resembled not a working clinic, but an Italian palazzo of the XVI century. At that time it was the first structure of this style, not only in the city, but throughout the entire Soviet space. During the Second World War, the building was destroyed, but restored with significant changes. Today there is a polyclinic of the 2nd city clinical hospital.
The Pritzker’s Pharmacy
The house-pharmacy Pritzker – is a monument of history and architecture of local significance (Nigoyana Ave., 4). The two-story building, decorated with four columns of the Corinthian order, is executed in the style of the Italian palazzo of the XVI century. It is considered one of the best creations of the famous architect A. Krasnoselsky. The house was erected in 1916 for one of the wealthy people of the city – the apothecary Lev Pritsker, who lived and worked here.
So on the first floor there was a pharmacy, and on the second floor – the owner’s apartment. At that time the building looked particularly bright, because it was built in the most undeveloped and criminogenic area of the city at the beginning of the 20th century. – Chechelovki. After nationalization throughout the twentieth century. until the 1990s. Here the pharmacy continued to operate, but already the state one. On the second floor of the building for a long time there were nurseries. The house of Pritzker is now in a state of destruction and requires reconstruction.
The Battle for the Dnieper” diorama
The diorama “Battle for the Dnieper”- is a unique object, discovered in 1975 by the 30th Victory Day. It is a seamless fabric with an area of 840 m2. A wide viewing radius (230 °), a deep subject plan consisting of the remains of defensive structures, weapons and military attributes, special lighting and sound design create the effect of direct presence at the site of the storming of the Dnieper. This is the largest diorama in Ukraine and one of the largest in the world. Diorama occupies a separate building, next to which is a permanent exposition of military equipment from the Second World War.
The Historical Museum
The National Historical Museum named after D. Yavornytsky – is one of the largest and oldest museums in Ukraine. Founded in 1849 as the “Public Museum of Ekaterinoslav province” and was at that time the first museum in the province. Initially he was in the Potemkin Palace, which belonged to the noble provincial assembly. Later it was transferred to the building of the male gymnasium, where it was located before the beginning of the 20th century. The present building was built in 1905 and is an architectural monument. The first expositions of the museum were collected by the inhabitants of the city. The museum was especially enlarged, thanks to the private collection of A. Paul.
The development of the museum is closely connected with Academician Dmitry Yavornitsky, who was director of the museum since 1902. Over the 30 years of his leadership, the museum has become a real treasure trove of historical and natural resources. During the German occupation, the museum suffered great losses. Only in the 1970-1980s. the period of the revival of the museum is coming. Today, the museum’s funds number 250 thousand items. These are archeological monuments, relics of the Zaporozhye Cossacks, old printed editions of the 16th-17th centuries, porcelain, furniture, weapons and much more.
The Katerynynska Mile
The Katerynynska Mile is a historical monument, the so-called road sign, established in 1787 on the route of the Empress Catherine II. It is a a sharp-ended stone tetrahedral pillar in the shape of a pyramid. It adjoins the fence of the Transfiguration Cathedral. The pillar-mile is also called the “mile”. It is the first stone building, aged as the foundation of the city of Dnipro. This is the only fully preserved monument of this type in the region.
The Transfiguration Cathedral
The Transfiguration Cathedral is a cathedral that belongs to the Dnipropetrovsk Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. It is an architectural monument. The first laying of the cathedral was in 1787, but the construction did not go further than the foundation. The second stage of the construction took place in 1830, and by 1835 the Transfiguration Cathedral was completed. The Cathedral is built in the classicism style. It has a T-shaped configuration. The cathedral has three entrances – the mainentance, the northern and southern ones. All of them are decorated with six-columned porticos. With the advent of Soviet union, the cathedral was closed, and the premises were used as a warehouse.
Since 1975, the cathedral has housed a Museum of Religion and Atheism. In 1992, the cathedral was returned to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In 2008 a new main bell-evangelist was installed on the bell tower of the cathedral. The territory of the cathedral contains a burial place of diocesan bishops and clergymen. Today the church houses such sacred objects as the icon “The Weeping Savior”, the icon of the Mother of God the “Iverska”, the icon of the Mother of God the “Worthy “, the icon of the Mother of God “Samarska”, the relic cross with the holy remains of John the Baptizer, as well as the Holy Apostles and Evangelists Matthew, Luke, Mark, Holy Righteous Anna, Holy Great Martyr Catherine and Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky.
The Soborna Square
The Soborna Square is one of the most beautiful places, part of the historical and architectural and park complex in Dnipro. Here you will find the Transfiguration Cathedral, the historical museum, the diorama “Battle for the Dnieper”, the building of the Mining Institute, the former men’s gymnasium, the former corps of God-friendly institutions and other attractions. The square was originally called the Soborna Square and was supposed to be the main square of the city, located on the hill. The townspeople often called it the Fair, since fairs used to take place here until the middle of the XIX century. The first building on Cathedral Square was the Transfiguration Cathedral, whereof laying of the foundation occurred in 1787. However, the construction on the area started only by the end of the XIX century. There are buildings of God-friendly institutions, a male gymnasium, and later – a historical museum. After the Second World War, the area was re-designed and turned into a historical and memorial complex. Since 1967, the memorial cemetery has been established here. It remained till today. There are 86 graves, including 7 common graves. The last burial was the one of the revolutionary Albert Voitsekhovich (1877 – 1957).
The National Mining University
The National Mining University (NMU) is a higher educational institution located on 19 Yavornytskyi Avenue. It’s an architectural monument of national importance. It was founded in 1899 as a higher mining school, after which the construction of the first educational buildings began with the funds of voluntary donations. In 1901 the main building was constructed, the completion of which was carried out in 1914 – 1915. In 1912, it was transformed into a mining institute. In its history, the institute has become one of the leading educational establishments. Among graduates of the university are professors, academicians, doctors of technical sciences and state figures. Today it is the National Technical University of “Dniprovska Polytechnic”. At the university, there are two museums: a Museum of the History of the University and a Geological and Mineralogical Museum. Also there is a student amateur film studio “Youth”, famous for its films which became laureates of contests and festivals.
The House of Brezhniev
The house of Brezhnev is a Gothic-style mansion built at the beginning of the 20th century (Krutohornyi descent, 1). In the first post-war years, Leonid Brezhnev (who later became the head of the Soviet state) lived here, while working in the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Committee of the CPSU. In 2006, a memorial was installed board on the building to commemorate him. In this house there lived not only L. Brezhnev but also other famous political figures: the first secretaries of the regional party committee. Therefore, the people called this building the “house of regional leaders.” The mansion was an official residence intended for the political elite of the region.
The House of the Commercial Chamber
The building of the Commercial Assembly was built in the Neo-Russian style in 1911 by local merchants in the estate of the widow of the Court Counselor Ms. V. Pavlova (23 Vernadsky Street). The mansion was reconstructed into club rooms. Also, a concert hall for 800 seats, a lotto hall, a restaurant, a library and an outdoor terrace were added. A theatrical building contained a hall, similar with its decor to the hall of the Winter Theater. Near the club there was a garden with a summer stage and a stone greenhouse. This place became the epicenter of business meetings and leisure of city merchants. In 1912-1914, the main income was received by the club from the organization of gambling. The concert hall was rented for lectures and concerts. Here performed Shalyapin, Balmont and Vertinsky. In 1921 the club was occupied by the Cheka – now prisoners were kept between its walls. In 1926 the building of the club was transferred to the trade union of builders. Since 1934 part of the premises have been occupied by the regional aeroclub (until 1958). In the same year, the restoration of the theatrical building began, after which they opened a children’s sound cinema named after Gorky. In 1948, the hall of the cinema was given over to the Philharmonic Society. In 1959 – 1960, the complex had been reconstructed to accommodate the House of Technology of the Council of People’s Commissars, later renamed into the House of Scientific and Technical Propaganda under the direction of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Ukrainian SSR. During the reconstruction, part of the buildings were dismantled, the terraces were built up, the interior was simplified and the garden was reorganized. In the 1960s, the building of the Institute of technical training of workers of ferrous metallurgy with a planetarium on the ground floor was being built on the territory of the garden. Later the remains of the garden were reorganised into a garage cooperative. In the 1990’s, the House of Technics was dismissed, the Institute for the Advanced Training of Metallurgists and the Museum of Labor Glory of Metallurgists of the South Ukraine were closed down, while the theater hall was abandoned. For some time the Prydniprovska Commodity Exchange has been operating here, followed by a commercial bank. Today the former club of the Commercial Assembly houses “Opera” concert-hall, where Ukrainian celebrities perform. We can say that the building was to some extent restored as per original look.
The Cascade Plaza Shopping Centre
The Cascade-Plaza Shopping Centre is a multifunctional center located on 1 Katerynoslavskyi Boulevard. Established in 2014, it replenishes the city with modern facilities for trade, recreation and entertainment. In terms of scale, the Cascade-Plaza is one of the largest malls in Dnopro. Here all conditions for a pleasant shopping were created. In the center there are many shops, boutiques and companies for different services. There are cafes and restaurants with a panoramic view of the central part of the city. The complex also includes a kids’ area with a circuit, a carousel, gambling machines and labyrinths. In the shopping center one can often encounter promotions and seasonal sales.
The City Duma (The City Council)
The City Duma and the Administrative Council were built in 1901-1903 for city self-governing bodies. It is another architectural masterpiece (D.D. Yavornitsky Ave., 47) and is considered to be one of the most beautiful buildings in Dnipro. It is a three-storey mansion with six towers the Viennese Renaissance style, decorated with rich architectural decor. It resembles the Town Hall in Europe. At that time, the City Duma and the Administrative Council became the highest building in the city. In 1912, an electric clock with a dial was installed on the facade. In the Soviet times, the Duma building served its mission until 1982: there were the City Council and the City Executive Committee. Today the building is occupied by the Dnipro College of Culture and Arts. The interior staircase and the former meeting room of the City Duma have been preserved to this day.
The Katerynoslavskyi Boulevard
Katerynoslavskyi boulevard is a pedestrian street in the center of Dnipro. The length of the boulevard is 160 m. It is one of the shortest and most beautiful boulevards of the city. The street appeared in the beginning of the XIX century. That’s where the first stone building in the city was erected. The oldest building on the boulevard is a two-storey house built in the 1870s and is preserved to this day. Today Katerynoslavskyi Boulevard is a piece of Europe in Dnipro, as well as a favorite spot for townspeople and visitors of the city. The main decoration of the boulevard was the alley of fountains and stone benches. There are many boutiques and shopping centers, cafes, pubs and restaurants. On the boulevard there is a monument to the “Unknown Oligarch”.
Building No 2 of the O. Honchar University
Building No. 2 of Dnipro National University named after O. Gonchar (O. Honchar National University) is a piece of architecture of national importance, built in 1891 (Yavornytsky Ave., 36). Erecting of the First Non-Classical Secondary School in the city took place in 1874. At first, the school was located in the poorly adapted premises of the owners of Horowitz and Stein. Later on, in 1890-1891 a separate building for the school was built funded by the provincial county councils, the City Duma and the bequests of Prince A. Kudashev. The founder and the chief curator of the educational institution was a well-known political and cultural figure A. Paul. The school taught foreign languages, mathematics and the natural sciences. In 1916, the Higher Women’s Courses in Physics and Mathematics and Natural History were established here. Subsequently, the courses were given the status of a higher educational institution. In 1918, the private Katerynoslavskyi University was founded in the building, which included four faculties. In the 1920s, a number of reorganizations took place, which culminated in opening of the Dnipro State University in 1933. Today the building also houses an educational institution – the building No. 2 of Dnipro National University named after O. Gonchar. The building has Departments of several faculties and a zoological museum – one of the oldest museums in the city. The museum has been open since 1924. It contains 5 thousand exhibits.
The MOST-City Entertainment Centre
TRK “MOST-City Center” is a large-scale shopping and entertainment complex that occupies the whole block of Glinka, Kotsiubynsky, Kharkivska and Plekhanova streets. The complex includes the “Most” business center, the shopping and entertainment center, the apartment-center and the parking. There you can enjoy supermarkets, boutiques, offices, cafes and restaurants. Among the entertainment is a five-hall multiplex, bowling, billiards and a kids’ playground.
The Menorah
The cultural and business center “Menora” is the world’s largest Jewish complex with a total area of 50 thousand m2. It was established in Dnipro in 2012. The author of the project is architect A. Sorin. The complex “Menorah” consists of 7 towers, representing the Temple 7-branched candlestick. The highest tower is 77 m (22 floors). The first floor of the center is the “Gallery”. It is made of marble and a specially made Jerusalem stone. The Gallery presents 12 facades of old Katerynoslav, where male and female schools, synagogues and various places were located. It was the Jewish center of the city. A popular place is the observation deck, located on the roof of the 6th tower at an altitude of 63 m with a panoramic view of the city. You can visit the observation deck during the tour around “Menorah” or separately. In the complex you will find souvenir shops, cafes, creative workshops, offices, two hotels and an art gallery.
The Lourié factory
Confectionery factory Lurié is the only surviving building, which was part of the 2 nd Manufacture Series of the Troitsk market trading complex. Oy was built in 1914 in Art Nouveau rich decor style (4 Grushevskogo Street). In 1877, a new bazaar project was adopted, with seven shopping rows built in the district around the Trinity Church. Among them there was a stone trading row of eight one-storey shops, known as the “2nd Manufactory” (“1st Manufactory” was in place of the current House of the Architects). Transformation of the Troitsk Bazaar continued. In a few years several dozens of two- and three-storey commercial and office buildings were built instead of single-storey shops, which changed both the appearance and character of the bazaar. Another two floors were added in the 2-nd Manufactory, and new three-storey buildings were built instead of some shops. In the 1920s, large buildings were adapted for housing, and also occupied by warehouses. In the 1930s, the building of the confectionery factory was a sewing combine, which before 1941 was called the Dnipropetrovsk Knitting Factory. After the war, the factory received all the other buildings of the 2nd Manufactory Row. After turning the trading raw into the manufactury, it has been completely re-designed, and its appearance has changed. Today the building is in abandoned state.
The Architects’ House
The House of Architects is the center of culture, science and art in Dnipro. At the end of the XIX century, there was the Lower-Troitsk market and the 1st manufactory row on the site of the current House of Architects. In one-storey houses there were various shops. Today, the House of Architects is a part of modern ensemble where art and thematic exhibitions, various concerts and presentations take place. On the ground floor, there is one of the most popular theaters of Dnipro – the theater of one actor “SCREAM”.
The St. Trinity Cathedral
The Holy Trinity Cathedral is an Orthodox church built in the middle of the 19th century in accordance with the project by Charlemagne-Bodé and Visconti. The cathedral was built on the site of the first city wooden church erected in 1791. Originally it was called the Trinity Church or the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit. In the 1860’s, a bell tower based on the project of the local architect was erected in front of the church. Later the houses of the parable and the parish school were built. A famous Ukrainian artist I. Izhakevich was invited to paint the frescoes. In 1934 the church was closed and turned into a warehouse. In the 1990s, restoration work of the exterior and interior decoration of the church was conducted. Today, the Holy Trinity Cathedral is not only the decoration of the city but also a sacred place for Orthodox parishioners. Here you can see such shrines as the icon of the Holy Trinity with a particle of the Mamvri oak, the “The Weeping Savior” icon, the icon of the Mother of God of Iver, the icon of the Mother of God of Kazan, the icon of the Mother of God the Worthy, the icon of the Mother of God of Samara, two crosses with relics of the highly revered by the Orthodox saints. The iconostasis of the Kazan church, the tomb of the Briansk church, and the works by I. Izhakevich, such as the “The Escape of Joseph to Egypt” icon; the icons of the apostles and the icons of cherubs in the arches of small domes have survived to our days. At the walls of the cathedral are the burials of diocesan bishops, rectors and founders of the church. The cathedral offers daily services.
The Heroes of the Maidan Square
The Heroes of the Maidan Square is the central square in Dnipro which crosses the Yavornytsky Avenue. Building of the square was conditioned in 1817 by a plan developed by V.Geste. The development of the area began in the 1840s-1850s. The main object was the Trinity Cathedral, built in 1845. The square was also occupied by the Troitskyi market, which in the beginning of the 20th century grew into a large shopping arcade with kiosks and one-storey shops. In terms of post-war development of 1947, there was again a project to create a central square. At the turn of the 1950-1960’s, ensemble of buildings in the Stalin’s Empire style was formed on the square. Administrative buildings formed a symmetrical U-shaped composition. Today the square houses the buildings of the”Passage” Complex, the Central Department Store and the Dnipro Economic Court of Appeal.
“The Passage” Shopping Centre
The Passage is a shopping and entertainment complex, located in the city center. The fourth floor of complex cpntains boutiques of various brands fashionable clothes, a footwear department, and also shops of cosmetics, a decor, jewels and other. On the 5th floor there is a recreation area, where there are cafes and restaurants. A special atmosphere is created by open terraces, from where a beautiful view of the central part of the city opens. At the entrance to the Passage, a two-tiered French carousel with figures of fairy animals, made to order by the French company Cocept 1900 International, is installed.
The TSUM Central Department Store
TSUM is a department store, built in 1938. After opening, it was the largest store in the region. The department store had been repeatedely reconstructed, after which the building has become double the previous size, and the unique interior decor was lost. Over time, the Central Department Store has lost its special significance, although today it is in demand among the residents of the city. There are various shops, a dry cleaning and an ATM. Also in the Central Department Store you will find McDonads. A memorial board was erected on the building of the department store in memory of the executed Jews of Dnipropetrovsk.
The Kohan’s Philarmony
Philharmony named after Kogan is a piece of architecture of national importance (Voskresenska street, 6). It was built in 1911-1913 according to the project of the academician of architecture A.Ginzburg as a Theater Club for the Public Assembly. The building in the style of constructivism was a high-rise tower type frame house with a peculiar facade, elements of Art Nouveau and Gothic styles added, as well as the reinforced concrete applied. In the Soviet era, there was a club for railway employees. In 2001 the building was transferred to the balance of the regional philharmonic society. Today it is the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Philharmonic Society named after Kogan.
Main city post office
The Main Post Office is a piece of architecture, built in 1905 specially for the post and telegraph office on the site of A. Shchekutin’s former estate (62 Yavornitsky Ave.). It is a three-storeyed building in Art Nouveau style, crowned with a tower with a spire, with rich interior decoration and floor tiles from the beginning of the 20th century preserved to this day. On one of the tiles you can see a special seal with the inscription “Bergenheim. Kharkiv ». In the early 2000’s, the building’s facade and interior, including the operating room, were completely restored. In the operation room of the post office you will find memorial boards dedicated to those who had been here – D. Yavornytsky, N. Makhno, A. Tolstoy, A. Gonchar, M. Rylsky, L. Brezhnev, V. Shcherbitsky and others. The building of the main post office almost completely preserved its appearance. Today it houses the central office of Ukrposhta.
The house of Krennikov
The Khrennikov House is a piece of architecture, built in 1913 in the style of Ukrainian modern. It belonged to the millionaire and popularizer of Ukrainian culture Vladimir Khrennikov. The building was highighted by towers, crowned with spiers, while white walls were creating an effect enhanced by a bright majolica on the facades. The Khrennikov House was considered to be one of the most modern apartment buildings in the city. Since 1914, the “Palace” cinema, shops and a society of trust have been established here. In 1915 the classes of the 1st commercial school were located in the building. With the advent of the Soviet Union, the building housed the central district committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine, trade unions, the theater of the young spectators and other organizations. Today, it hosts the “Ukraine” hotel. The building is well-preserved till today, having become one of the symbols of Dnipro.
“The Dnipro Arena” Stadium
The Dnipro Arena stadium is a football stadium opened in Dnipro in 2008 and designed according to the requirements of FIFA and UEFA. It was the first stadium in Ukraine, prepared for the European Championships 2012. It is designed for 31 thousand spectators. Since 1939 the site of the current stadium has been serving as the stadium where the “Stal” team used to play. From 1949 to the early 2000s, the stadium belonged to the «Metallurg» football club. Today, the “Dnipro Arena” stadium is the home arena for the “Dnipro” football club. In 2009, the stadium hosted the final of the Ukrainian Cup-2009 and the qualifying match of the World Cup. The stadium is equipped with the most advanced technologies and various facilities. There is a gym, a room for media representatives, lodges for VIP guests for 292 seats, and a restaurant for 550 seats. Fans can enjoy souvenir shops.
The Governor’s House
The governor’s house, a neo-Gothic building built in the 1840s (Voskresenskaya St., 14), is a piece of architecture of national importance. The mansion was erected for the Major Shcherbakov. From the middle of the XIX century it housed the English club, whereof members were noble people, higher military and civilian ranks, as well as wealthy merchants. From 1887 to 1917 the house served as the official residence for the governors, after which the mansion was nicknamed the “Governor’s House”. During the Soviet era, the building was occupied by various committees, then the Palace of Pioneers, and since the 1970s it has been hosting a public organization. In 1997, the Governor’s House was reconstructed for office purposes. Today, it contains the branch of one of the largest banks in Ukraine – Privatbank.
The fire-fighting station
The fire department is a piece of architecture, built in 1892 (Yurii Savchenko Street, 2). It was erected on the former Prison Square in place of the city barracks. The complex consisted of several brick buildings, namely: a fire station with a high observation tower, attached stables, a wood-burning barn and a police station. The police unit was often used for imprisoning. The pre-trial detention cells were located in the courtyard of the site. So once a well-known revolutionist Ivan Babushkin was detained here, who fled safely from in 1902. In 1909, a death sentence was imposed on the leaders of the Gorlovka uprising of 1905 in the courtyard of this same unit. In memory of those events, the building of the fire unit was equipped with two marble planks in 1970. Today, the fire department of the city is also located in the same building. Since 2005, it became the location for one of the best in exhibitions of fire and rescue services Ukraine, representing almost the entire history of the firefighting business. There is also a cinema hall, screening old movies about exploiting of firefighters, as well as the fire-fighting history hall, where you can see firemen’s helmets, fire trucks and much more.
“The People and Events” Polyptych
The “Events and People” Polyptych is a series of bas-reliefs, opened in 2012 in honor of the 80th anniversary of Dnipropetrovs’ka (Kozatska) square. The multi-element composition that occupies the central part of the area, consists of eight concrete stelae where 42 sculptural images are located. 27 of them are memorial boards depicting the iconic historical events of the city and the region, and another 15 are bas-reliefs of outstanding personalities who have glorified the region all over Ukraine and the world. In the gallery you can see famous countrymen – Mykhailo Yangel, Ivan Sirko, Dmytro Yavornytsky, Alexander Paul, Ivan Synelnikov, Andrei Fabre, Alexander Makarov, Oles Honchar, Vasil Margelov and others. The Kozatska Square (previously known as the 80th anniversary of the Dnipropetrovsk region Square) starts with the Starokazatska the street and ends with a fountain and a staircase leading to the Globa park.
Kids’ railway
The Kids’ Railway is the first kids’ railway in Ukraine, built in 1936 and located in the Globa park. At the time of opening, the railroad was equipped just like the most advanced “adult” highways. At the station there was a radio unit equipped with a gramophone. It was also possible to use the telegraph connection between the stations. Soon the children’s road got its own amateur shortwave radio station – the subject of admiration of the whole population in the 1930s. A weather station was set up near the depot. Today, the 2 km long ring road has one station, one track and a platform. The station houses training classes, a station attendant, a waiting room and a ticket office. Until now, the kids’ railway is a training base for future transport employess and an excellent entertainment park. The children’s road works on weekends (May – October), and also during the winter holidays.
The St. Joseph Cathedral
The Roman Catholic Church of St. Joseph the Betrothed is the building of a Roman Catholic church in the Neo-Gothic style, built in 1877 (91 Yavornytsky Ave). The cathedral is decorated with frescoes. Some of them have survived till today, including inscriptions in Polish on the walls. In the postwar years, the building of the church became a library, and later it was re-equipped into gymnasium at the city sports committee. In the 1990’s, there were various societies and organizations. And only in 2009 the building of the church was returned to the Roman Catholic parish of St. Joseph. Since 2011, the cathedral has been under renovation for several years. Today, the doors are open for daily worship services.
The Lazar Hloba Park
Park named after Lazar Globa is the central park of Dnipro. It was founded at the end of the XVIII century. retired Zaporozhian captain Lazar Globa and is considered to be one of the oldest parks in the city. The park is a favorite place for city celebrations. Every year the main Christmas tree is set in the eastern part of the park, as well as festivals and concerts are held. In the center of the park there is a lake, with the attractions and a summer theater around it. Also on the territory of the park there are various sculptures, a monument to Lazar Globa, a circular kids’ railway. Since 2009 a dolphinarium has been operating here. Today the park contains up to 8 thousand trees and more than 2 thousand bushes of 68 species.
The Muse” light and music fountain
The light and musical fountain “Muse” was founded in 1974 and is located on the72-a Dmytro Yavornytsky Avenue in front of the Dnipro Opera and Ballet Theater. The fountain is adorned by the lying figure of a woman who holds theatrical masks in her hands. The author of the sculpture is Yurii Pavlov. Initially, the fountain was part of the air-conditioning system for theatrical premises. Since 2002, the fountain has got some music. Now it consists of 6 cascades and 190 jets. The volume of the fountain is 672 cubic meters. Every hour 3.5 tons of water are used.
The Alley of Lovers
The Alley of Lovers, opened in 2003 (Stoliarova St.), is one of the symbols of the Dnipro city. Alley lovers has become a favorite place amongs townspeople and a must-see for tourists. Here you can see the Bench of Tedious Waiting, the copper “rushnyk” and the smallest city fountain “Amur”. The 85 m3 fountain is a round pool with the sculpture of a boy holding an arrow ( the God of love) on the pedestal in the center. Right next to the fountain you can see a copper “rushnyk” with male and female feet prints. It has become a good tradition for the newlyweds to come to the Alley of Lovers on the day of the wedding in order to step on the towel and make wedding photos at the Amur.
Former state-owned cloth factory
The former state-owned cloth factory is one of the oldest buildings in the city, which has survived to our days and is located on D. Yavornytsky Ave., next to the Vokzalna Square. It is a monument of architecture of national importance. It is a classical style building, the central entrance of which is adorned with ten columns. This is the oldest stone building, built in 1794 at the initiative of Prince G. Potiomkin. After the death of the prince, the manufactory fell under the state treasury ownership. The flourishing of the factory as an enterprise falls on the 1820s. The cloth manufactory was considered to be the largest in the region. It employed more than 3 thousand workers. In 1837, the factory was closed due to its unprofitability. The factory buildings have been abandoned for a long time, with some of them being used as army warehouses. In the 1880’s, the buildings housed the management of the railway and the food store, and between 1926 and 2000s – the Bakery number 1.
Dmytro Yavornytskyi Avenue
Dmitro Yavornytsky Avenue is the central 5-km long street of Dnipro. It is one of the oldest highways of the city. Its construction started in the end of the XVIII century on the terrain of the Cossack settlement of Polovytsia and was part of the way from Kyiv to Kichkas. Previously it was called the Grand Street, The Grand Boulevard Street, the Katerynynskyi Avenue (1834-1923) and in the Soviet times – the Karl Marx Avenue. Since 2016 it was named after the researcher of the history of Zaporizhian Cossacks D. Yavornytsky. The main attractions of the city are concentrated on the avenue and the streets adjacent to it. Until now, many buildings of the turn of the XIX – XX centuries, monuments of architecture and the historical museum, in particular, as well the main post office and the buildings of the Dnipro National and Mining universities have been preserved to date. The Yavornytsky Avenue crosses the Cathedral Square, the Heroes of the Maidan Square and the Vokzalnaya Square.