After a long and lively succession of names, from the native Yuzovka (from 1869) to the subsequent Stalin (from 1924) and the similar Stalino, (from 1929) in 1961 the current Donetsk was established, following destalinization and the growth of the city, which meanwhile became the hub of the Donetsk region.
Upon arriving in the city, after landing at the Donetsk international airport, one immediately gets the impression of being catapulted into a center where industrialization, culture, and science blend in a pleasant union waiting to be discovered.
A starting point for a pleasant visit to the city is certainly Artema, a street 9 kilometers long along which ancient and modern architectural styles intertwine, with small parks, shopping centers, refined hotels, and restaurants.
The city shows different aspects depending on where you are. The southern part of Donetsk is occupied by the post offices, hospitals, schools, factories, and railway depots. The architecture here, following the construction of John Hughes‘ residence and various homes for foreigners, is mostly in English style characterized by rectangular and triangular facades, green roofs, large windows, and balconies occupying most of the buildings.
The northern part of Donetsk, on the other hand, has always been more commercial, being home to artisan shops, bureaucrats, and merchants. Here you can spend time visiting the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of Jesus, shopping at the covered market (especially along the main street of Novyi Svet), tasting typical Ukrainian products (such as the soups Rozsolnyk, Hybivka, and Vinigret, and types of bread Korovai, Paska, and Babka) and staying at numerous hotels.
Donetsk also offers a breath of culture thanks to numerous theaters (including the Opera and Ballet Theater), the planetarium, about thirty museums, and more than 500 bookstores.
