32 Velyka Zhytomyrska Street, Kyiv, Art Nouveau landmark in central Kyiv, Ukraine.
The building at 32 Velyka Zhytomyrska Street is an Art Nouveau structure with highly detailed snake carvings that spiral around windows and frame doorways across its full exterior. These reptilian sculptures are carved directly into the stone facade, creating an eye-catching decorative pattern that covers much of the wall surface.
This building was constructed in the early 1900s during a period of rapid urban growth and artistic experimentation in Kyiv. The Art Nouveau design with its distinctive animal motifs emerged from a time when the city was undergoing significant economic and cultural transformation.
The snake carvings on this building reflect old protective beliefs from the region, where such creatures were seen as guardians against harm. Walking around the exterior, you can observe how these symbols were deliberately placed to guard the entrance and windows.
The building sits on a busy street in the city center with several public transport stops nearby and easy metro access. You can view the ornate facade clearly from street level and easily combine it with other downtown attractions.
The exterior features more than twenty individual snake sculptures positioned and integrated differently across the walls. Some coil around window frames while others frame doorways or serve as connecting elements between wall sections.
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