Dnepropetrovsk

The first settlements appeared in the area as early as about 150,000 years ago. Later in history these lands were becoming home to different tribes, e.g. Cimmerians (3000 years ago), Scythians (ca.700 BC), Sarmatians (200 BC), Slavic tribes (1st century of our era) and an arena of struggle between the Slavs and the Asian nomads (Tatars).  
 
There exist at least 7 versions of dating the organized settlement, starting from 870 AC, when according to legend, the Byzantine monks founded a monastery on an island, which now bears the name of the Monastery Island. The first fortified town settlements, though, appeared in the middle of the 16th century. The history of “the free people”, Cossacks, leads to another date in 17th century, when the Kodak Fortress was built in Kodaki (in the outskirts of modern Dnepropetrovsk), which was rivalry of Poland, Turkey and Russia in the region.
 
1776 is an official date of the new city foundation, which is the result of Catherine the Great’s ambitious plan of southern expansion of the Russian Empire. The city was founded by Prince Potemkin at the Russian Empress’s order and bore the name Yekaterinoslav meaning The Glory of Yekaterina until 1926. For one year in 1918 the city’s name was Sicheslav  meaning The Glory of Sich” i.e. Cossacks’ Fortress.
 
Since 1926 the city bears the name Dnepropetrovsk, often lovingly abbreviated by its citizens to Dnepr. The city’s name comprises of 2 words - Dnepr (name of the river) and Petrovsky (name of the revolutionary Grigory Petrovsky).

  
                                                                                                                                        Photos by zelenpol@ukr.net

Walking around the city

A good starting point to get acquainted with the city is the majestic Spaso-Preobrazhensky (Holy Transfiguration) Cathedral. It was founded by order of Catherine the Great in 1787 to commemorate the city foundation and is an example of Russian Classicism. The empress herself laid the first foundation stone on 9 May 1787 during her trip of the southern territories.. The initial ambitious plan was to surpass St. Peter and Paul’s Cathedral in Rome (150 m long, 139 m high), but due to lack of financing the construction was completed only in 1835 with much more modest size of the Cathedral. It is located in the nucleus of the historical center of the city in Zhovtneva (former Cathedral) Square.

Where to stay

The city offers a whole range of hotels from luxury to budget. Enjoy your stay in this fascinating city on the Dnepr! 

 Shopping, entertainment and recreation

Fashion - shopping  is a must for this city, as possibilities are numerous and diverse.

Pret-a-porter fashion studio Giaterie will be a surprise for visitors to Dnepropetrovsk. It is a well-known trademark which has been designing and making clothes for all sorts of occasions , from wonderfully elaborated fantasy full wedding and evening gowns to everyday wear - but clothes with a difference - they are infused with highly refined perfection (read more in Welcome to Ukraine magazine).

The biggest shopping centres are Most City Center, Karavan, Apollo, Dafi, Vavilon, Materik, Grand Plaza, Europe, Atrium. Here not only one can shop till drop, but also enjoy diverse recreation and entertainment facilities - excellent indoors skating-rink open round the year (Most City Centre, Karavan), bowling (Most City Centre), comfortable and high-tech movie theatres (Most City Cente, Vavilon, Dafi, Materik), to say nothing of wonderful playing grounds for children and eating places to any liking. There is also a unique recreation possibility in Vavilon - sport club Gornostay with indoors mountain-skiing simulator. 

Creative Club Bartolomeo located on the vast territory of the picturesque bank of the Dnepr is well known far beyond Dnepropetrovsk for uniqueness of the concept on which design and atmosphere of this recreation paradise is based and its creative implementation. It pays tribute to the legendary discovery of Cape of Good Hope by the outstanding Portuguese explorer Bartolomeo Diash, and invites you to enjoy its numerous sport and entertainment facilities in the thrilling atmosphere of the epoch of great geographical discoveries.

Another relaxation and recreation paradise is Spa Centre Tsunami where you can enjoy superb quality bath complex (including Russian, Roman, Turkish, Japanese baths and Finnish sauna), swimming-pool and numerous services from different massages and fitness to beauty facials.

For those who prefer active leisure, Park of Active Fun Lavina is the right place. Open-air skating-rink and especially slope for mountain skiing attract scores of both beginners (for whom School of Figure Skating and School of Mountain Skiing "Bukovel" is open) and experienced skaters and skiers of all ages.

Viva Rosa flowers, bouquets (delivery within the city), gifts, souvenirs (10 -15 % EBA discounts).

 Some useful numbers