Holy Spirit Cathedral
Minsk
Copyright: Grisha Bruev/Shutterstock.comHoly Spirit Cathedral
Standing defiantly on a small hill is the Holy Spirit Cathedral, one of the most instantly recognisable landmarks of Minsk. This two-towered Orthodox cathedral is situated in the Upper Town. It was once part of a Polish Bernadine convent. The monastery buildings nearby are now a music academy.
Do & See
With its grand boulevards and big squares, Minsk is all about monumental excess, but its Old Town is tiny and not particularly old at all - most of the city had been rebuilt following the demolition in WWII. The best place to start exploring Minsk is at the Independence Square with its statue of Lenin and the Belorussian University building. Some of the best views over the city unfold from atop the futuristic structure of Belarus' National Library.