The Kiev Pechersk Lavra, also known as the Kiev Monastery of the Caves, is a historic Eastern Orthodox Christian monastery named after a district of the city, located in the heart of Kiev. It is the first and oldest monastery in the territory of contemporary Ukraine, and is characterized by a Baroque architectural design that made it one of the most important landmarks of the city and even one of the most prominent architectural masterpieces in Europe, with its towering golden domes, ornate walls and vaulted ceilings decorated with mosaics.