UKRAINE's national day is marked on August 24, the country's Independence Day.

On this day in 1991, the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian sole legislative authority, proclaimed the Act of Independence of Ukraine. An all-Ukrainian referendum, held on December 1 the same year confirmed this Act of Independence of Ukraine.

The connection between Ukraine and Sofia's traffic arteries is Kievska Street, named after Ukrainian capital Kiev.

Kiev occupies more than 790 sq km and sits on the both banks of the Dnipro River. Its population is 2,635,300.

Founded in the fifth century, Kiev is the mother city of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. All three descended from Kievan Rus, the Slavic super-state that existed from the ninth to the eleventh centuries.

Since then, Kiev has survived Mongol invasions, devastating fires, communist urban planning and the massive destruction of World War II.

Kiev's Old Town is concentrated around the northeastern end of Volodimirska Street and contains a number of the city's historic landmarks. It is situated within walking distance of the central part of the city.

The main attraction is the eleventh century Saint Sophia Cathedral, the city's oldest standing church, which contains some of the country's greatest mosaics and frescoes. A few blocks south of the cathedral is Kiev's main commercial walkway, Khreshchatik, Street, a bustling road lined with shops. At the southern end of Khreshchatik, the aisles at the Bessarabski Market are filled with fruit and vegetable vendors.

Andriyivski vzviz, Kiev's most charming street, winds its way north from Old Town to the base of the Podil district, the historic merchants' quarter and river port. Andriyivski is lined with galleries, shops, restaurants and cafes. The heart of Podil is the Kontraktova ploshcha, a park-like square named for the large, white-arcaded Kontraktova Dim (House of Contracts) at the centre. Dating from 1817, the building is now filled with restaurants, galleries and businesses.

A few blocks to the north-west is the chilling but fascinating Chernobyl Museum, where exhibits document the worst nuclear disaster in history - bringing home the fact that it happened only 100km to the north of Kiev.

The 1631 Church of Mikola Pritisko is the oldest standing structure in Podil. Its whitewashed, green-roofed exterior is an example of early Ukrainian Baroque architecture.

Along the river, south of the Old Town, is the Pechersk district, the historic ecclesiastical centre and site of the Caves Monastery, founded in 1051. Spread across wooded slopes above the Dnipro a few kilometres south of the city centre, the monastery is a collection of gold-domed churches, underground labyrinths lined with mummified monks, and elegant monastic buildings turned into museums. One of the buildings is even packed with Scythian gold.

The Dormition Cathedral, which is part of the monastery complex, dates from the late eleventh century. Despite being partially destroyed by the Red Army during World War II, it is still one of the country's greatest Baroque religious buildings.

To the north of the cathedral is the Historical Treasures Museum, devoted mainly to artefacts and precious stones and metals from Ukraine. The highlight is the display of Scythian goldwork from the fourth century BC. Other things to be seen there include a twelfth century model of Kiev and exhibits of richly ornamented goblets, crosses, chalices as well as icons by Ukrainian, Russian, Polish and Lithuanian masters.

Another landmark of Kiev is the Folk Architecture Museum, situated only 12 km south of the city centre. Spread out over scenic rolling hills are a large number of 17th to 20th century wooden cottages, churches, farmsteads and windmills, many with beautiful gardens and preserved interior furnishings. The museum is divided into seven small villages representing regional traditions. There are also some good restaurants, a gift shop and special events for visitors.