This 1966 color artistic postcard depicts the historic center of Kyiv—Bohdan Khmelnytsky Square (now Sofiiska Square)—featuring the monument to the Hetman and the Bell Tower of Saint Sophia Cathedral.
What is shown on the postcard
The foreground shows a landscaped public garden with flower beds, ornamental shrubs, and walking pedestrians. On the left, the bronze equestrian monument to Bohdan Khmelnytsky stands atop a rocky granite pedestal. Dominating the center is the four-tiered Bell Tower of Saint Sophia Cathedral with its gilded dome. In the background, the domes of Saint Sophia Cathedral are visible on the right, alongside parked vintage buses.
Historical note
Sofiiska (Saint Sophia) Square is one of the oldest squares in Kyiv. During the Soviet period, from 1944 to 1993, it was named after Bohdan Khmelnytsky to honor the Ukrainian Hetman. The monument to Bohdan Khmelnytsky, designed by sculptor Mikhail Mikeshin, was inaugurated here in 1888. The Saint Sophia Bell Tower, built at the turn of the 18th century and rebuilt in the 19th century, is a prominent monument of Ukrainian Baroque architecture.
Present day
In 1993, the square was restored to its historical name, Sofiiska Square. Today, this area is part of the buffer zone of the UNESCO World Heritage site. The architectural ensemble of the square, including the Khmelnytsky monument and the bell tower, is fully preserved and serves as a major tourist destination in Kyiv.
Location (map)
Address: Sofiiska Square, Kyiv, Ukraine
Coordinates: 50.453600, 30.516100
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Coordinates of the Monument to Bohdan Khmelnytsky on Sofiiska Square in Kyiv.
Questions and answers
- What historical name does the square on the postcard bear today? The square, named Bohdan Khmelnytsky Square in 1966, is known today by its historical name, Sofiiska (Saint Sophia) Square.
- Which key landmarks are visible in the image? The postcard features the bronze equestrian monument to Bohdan Khmelnytsky on its pedestal, the four-tiered Saint Sophia Bell Tower, and the domes of Saint Sophia Cathedral.
- When was the historical name of the square restored? The historical name ‘Sofiiska Square’ was restored in 1993.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Kyiv from 1966.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.