More info: Saint Sophia Cathedral overlooks Sophia Square and is one of the city's best known landmarks. Sophia Square is one of the oldest areas of the city and is close to Independence Square , in the historical center of Kiev.
In 1036, after victory over the nomadic Pechenegs, Prince Yaroslav ordered the building of the Cathedral of St. Sophia on the site and the area around the cathedral was named Sofia. In the 17th centurythe square was the site of celebrations for the victory over the Polish army under the command of the Cossacks of Bogdan Khmelnitsky.
Sophia Square has always been a centre of cultural and political life of Ukraine. It was here in 1919 that was proclaimed the Act of Union of Ukrainian People`s Republic and the Western Ukrainian People`s Republic, which resulted in the eastern regions of Ukraine uniting with Western regions.