You haven't visited a monastery until you've visited one located in a cave. Named one of the Seven Wonders of the Ukraine, the Kiev Pechersk Lavra -- a.k.a. the Kiev Monastery of the Caves -- is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the entire country.
This UNESCO heritage site features the beautiful St. Sophia Cathedral (right) and Belltower up top, but most people head immediately to the underground caves.
Founded nearly a millennium ago in 1051, the cave monastery features underground chapels, living quarters and catacombs. Much of it is off-limits to tourists, but there are still lots of narrow caves that you can scrunch through on a visit. And scrunch you will. The caves are only a few feet wide and a few meters high. It’s also quite dark, so you must purchase a candle before entering the dark, hallowed halls. The caves did not allow cameras, but click here to see an image found online.
Obviously the most beautiful visuals are found in the ornate churches above, but the caves are unique in that religious places usually aren’t so spooky, except maybe Pat Robertson’s pulpit. The caves are made even creepier by the mummified bodies essentially on display in these already cramped quarters.
