A trip to Sofia Park in Uman, Ukraine: place, love is born.

Polish Marquise angels love ... one of the richest Polish magnate Stanislav Potocki magic to Sofia. On this woman can write novels, able to outshine adventure Angelica. "Excellent Greek", which according to one version claims the origin of the ancient Greek kind (another daughter trader cattle), visited in his life courtesan, a female pimp, wife and mistress of several noble nobles, including Grigory Potemkin. Clever, beautiful, which is rumored to not tsuralasya political and espionage games.

But its main merit in the other.

It Sofia, fascinated Arcadia Park, located near the Neborova, subtly hinted lover Potocki, Uman in his possession would be nice to organize something similar. Thus began the story of Sophia park.

Then the couple were many good and bad, but its role in history they fulfilled in full.

Back in 1796, the tract Kamenka engineer Ludwig Metzel taken for construction of the park dedicated to Sofia Hlyavone (Potocki it will be only in April 1798). There were explosions knocked picks workers who cut down on future natural rock caves Diana and Calypso, was organized water system, rylysya rate, planted trees and shrubs. Overall, it employed more than 800 farmers. A construction costs amounted to 2,000,250 rubles silver. In May 1802 Sofia has walked the alleys of his "podarunochka birthday," or rather the birthday party. Park, called her name.

A Journey in antiquity it may well not be enough, because in no small park area - 179.2 hectares - in addition to vegetation, there are many interesting things, man made in collaboration with the majestic nature: Flora Pavilion. Fountain "Snake". Assembly Square. Tarpeian Rock. Venetian bridge. Grotto of fear and doubt. Grotto Scylla. Great Falls. The statues of Roman and Greek gods and heroes. Valley Cyclops. The underground river. Graceful swans and funny Kachur in a pond. And such "highlights" in the park more than a hundred. If you are immersed in antiquity. From head. I do not want to emerge from there.