The facts about the history of Kiev are so intertwined with legend, it's easier to simply accept the legends as the truth than to try and separate the two. From the story of the four siblings who founded Kiev, to Prince Vladimir's conversion of his pagan subjects to Christianity, to the noble efforts of Yaroslav the Wise to make Kiev a great center of learning and law, Kiev's historic characters and events - whether myth or reality - have shaped the city and how it sees itself. Kiev monuments commemorate Kiev's legendary beginnings just as proudly as if scholars could prove its origins, and ancient religious sites, like St. Sophia Cathedral serve as evidence of a long-lost era.
Whether or not you travel to Kiev, you can still enjoy photos of its cathedrals topped with sparkling domes, of resurrected structures from the time of Kievan Rus, and of monuments that embody Kievan spirit. Three photo galleries will introduce you to this Eastern European city and some of its sights:
Monument to Founders of Kiev photo credit: iStockphoto/Tashka