Magic Hour: St. Sophia’s Looking Good With Some Flare
Before my recent visit to Kiev I can’t say I was really a fan of Eastern Orthodox Architecture. That all changed when I saw St. Sophia Cathedral (Собор святої Софії). St. Sophia’s was located so close to my hotel the Hyatt Regency Kiev, I got a chance to walk around the grounds shortly before the UNESCO World Heritage site closed for the day. Built in 1037 with the intent to rival the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul (then Constantinople), my impression from my quick visit is that St. Sophia’s does a pretty good job. Opening hours at St.Sophia: 10:00-18:00, Saturday 10:00-17:00, closed on Thursday.
Here are some of my favorite images from my photo walk through the grounds of St. Sophia’s.
Bells near the Bell Tower
Domes of St. Sophia
Marigolds and women at St. Sophia’s
Statue of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, Kiev
Note: My trip to Kiev was far too brief, and I look forward to returning soon and checking out the interior of St. Sophia’s and the related monastic buildings.
Photosynth panorama of the St.Sophia grounds
If you’re headed to Kiev, I recommend you check out Larissa Olenicoff’s Introduction to Kiev in Photos Post for the Matador Network. Larissa was a lovely virtual tour guide to the city, and she’s also a great mobile photographer.