Sofiyivsky Park, Scientific arboretum and botanical garden in Uman, Ukraine.
Sofiyivsky Park is an arboretum and botanical garden in Uman, located in central Ukraine. Spread across roughly 179 hectares, the site features native trees alongside species from other climates, while artificial water features follow the course of the Kamianka River and are connected by bridges, steps and viewpoints.
Count Stanisław Potocki commissioned the creation of the garden from 1796 onward as a gift for his wife Sofia, investing heavily in waterworks and plantings. Later owners and state administrations maintained the grounds with varying degrees of effort, until it gained recognition as a scientific institution during the 20th century.
The arboretum bears the name of its first owner, whose Greek roots shaped the overall concept of the garden. Many of the grottoes, statues and pavilions still carry names from ancient myth and serve as landmarks for visitors navigating the grounds.
The garden is best explored on foot, and sturdy footwear is advisable because many paths involve steps and uneven terrain. Spring and summer bring out most of the blooms, while autumn colors the landscape with changing leaves.
An underground watercourse flows for several hundred meters through caves and tunnels beneath the garden, linking multiple pools along its path. Visitors can hear and glimpse parts of this hidden water system at certain points through grated openings.
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