Red University Building

This is the principal and oldest 4-story building of the Kyiv University. This building is a worldwide famous symbol of the Kyiv University and the Ukrainian fundamental higher educational system. It was constructed in 1837–1843 and was built in a late Classicism type construction, by architect with Italian origins Vincent Beretti. The building forms an enormous figure enclosing a courtyard, the length of the facade makes 145.68m. The walls of the building are painted red and the heads and bases of the columns are painted black, corresponding to the colors of the stripes on the Order of St. Vladimir (founded in 1782), as Kyiv University used to bear the name of this Order. The motto of the Order, “Benefit, honor and glory” became the motto of Kyiv University.