In spite of the extensive damage that was inflicted on the city by the Germans in the Second World War and the Soviets afterwards, a surprising amount of Kiev's historic architecture remains.  The Maryinski Palace, one of Kiev's most famous buildings, was built  in the middle of the 18th Century by Princess Elizaveta Petronova of Russia.  The palace was destroyed by fire in the 1870's and subsequently rebuilt by Czar Alexander II using watercolor paintings of the original building as a guide.  After sustaining extensive damage in World War II, today the palace has again been restored and serves as the ceremonial resisdence of Ukraine's president.  Portions of the palace are open to the public. 

Other historic Kiev buildings open to visitors include its churches, all recently restored.  St. Sophia Cathedral is one of the city's most famous, named for the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, now Istanbul.  The structure was built in the early 11th Century and served as a church until it was slated for destruction by the Soviets in the 1930's.  It was saved largely by tireless campaigns by Ukrainian historians and scientists.  The church is open to visitors today after being restored.