Minsk (Belarus): what to see in the capital


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What to see in Minsk, itinerary including the main monuments and places of interest, including the historical center, the island of tears, the Cathedral, the Skaryny Prospect and the War Museum.


Tourist information

Capital of Belarus, Minsk is located at about 220 meters above sea level, on the southeastern slopes of the homonymous hills, on the banks of the Svisloch river, in the central part of the country.

The first document testifying to the presence of a fortified center with the name of Menesk or Mensk dates back to 1067.


The traces of this fortress were discovered following the archaeological excavations on the right bank of the Svisloch river, near the Piazza del 8 marzo.

Throughout history Minsk has been destroyed several times, particularly during the Second World War, when the aftermath of the conflict wiped out almost all the evidence of previous centuries.

Rebuilt after the war, the city has large buildings, large squares, wide streets, and parks, according to the canons of Soviet town planning of that period.


Along the river there is the historical part of the city, which is distinguished by the presence of shops, cafes and restaurants.

This area was rebuilt in the eighties of the last century, with buildings dating back to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, as it was originally presented.

What see

Through a bridge you reach the island of tears, dedicated to the Belarusians who died in battle, while on a small hill stands the Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, with two baroque towers and a very suggestive environment inside.


Among the other churches they stand out

The Cathedral of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, another beautiful Orthodox church built in 1613 and restored in 1871, also known as the yellow church, for its color.

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The Church of Santa Maria Maddalena, the largest in the city, dates back to 1847 and is known for its particular domes.

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Vergine, in Baroque style was built in 1710 as a church of the Jesuit monastery.

After various hardships, since 1993, it has been returned to Roman Catholic worship.

The Prospect Skaryny, the main city street, home to the main political and cultural institutions, leads to Independence Square, which houses the Government Buildings, the State University and the beautiful Catholic Church of Saints Simon and Helena, known as the Church Red, in neo-Gothic style, whose construction was financed by an important Polish social activist, who named it after the patron saints of her two deceased children, Elena and Simone.

Under this large square there is a shopping center and the Metro.

Proceeding north you reach Piazza della Vittoria, characterized by a giant obelisk named after the fighters of the Soviet Army and the partisans who died during the Great Patriotic War, at the foot of which a perpetual flame dedicated to the unknown soldier has been lit since 1954.

Among the museums in the city they are very interesting


- the National Museum of Arts, which preserves an important collection of Belarusian art from the seventeenth century to the present, as well as Russian works and European artists.

- The National Museum of Culture and History, which tells the tormented history of Belarus, through various objects, including traditional costumes, musical instruments, coins, and more.

- The Museum of the Great Patriotic War, to remind us of the horrors of the war through the history that the country experienced during the Second World War, including the drama of the Jewish population of Minsk, deported en masse.

Minsk Belarus. City | Sights | People (March 2024)


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