There is no better Ukrainian city to celebrate St. Valentine’s than Lviv, often called “little Paris”. The numerous statues and figures of lions, squares and museums, cafes and parks of this city seem created for couples in love. “Panorama” invites you to fly on the wings of UIA to Lviv with your beloved and spend a most memorable romantic weekend
If you come to Lviv once, you will remember it forever. Indeed, how could one forget the world of ancient legends, the jazzy jangle of trams, the cosy coffee houses, and the noble Lviv residents? The magnetism of Lviv has a special recipe. Its ingredients: antiquity, aristocratic atmosphere, aromas of coffee and love, mixed in proportions that create an unsurpassed charm. How should you start your romance with Lviv? With a walk, of course.
City Hall, City Views
A visit to the Rynok Square is “a must”. This is where City Hall is standing, surrounded by ancient statues. The duty of each respectable tourist is to go inside City Hall, maybe not to get married, but certainly to climb its 65-metre tower and get a bird’s-eye view of the city. Take your beloved by the hand and walk up the 408 steps. On the 400th step, you will see the old clock built in 1852 and, through a glass wall, its huge mechanism. Remember to bring your camera! When you reach the top, be prepared to enjoy and photograph breathtaking views of Lviv. Address: 1, Rynok Square, tel.: +38 032 297 5911. Open Tuesdays to Fridays from 10:00 to 17:00, weekends and holidays from 10:00 to 19:00, closed on Mondays. Tickets: UAH3.
Back on the pavement of the Rynok, head to the city’s oldest working pharmacy. The Pharmacy-museum displays over three thousand rare exhibits, including a unique collection of pharmacy utensil, scales and antique medical books. Founded in 1735, it sold medicine, potions, healing wines and cosmetics. Now you can visit the exhibition in the basement and buy the famous “Iron Wine” to increase your haemoglobin count. Address: 2, Drukarska Str., tel.: +38 032 272 0041. Open: from 10:00 to 17:00, daily. Tickets: adults - UAH3.
Italians and Opera
Take a few photos against the background of the City Hall, and then go to the neighbouring Italian Yard, located behind Korniakt’s palace (6, Rynok Square). Surprise your love by saying that this is Ukraine’s only three-storey-high Renaissance logia. Today, it is also a famous cultural and artistic centre with several festivals, contests and concerts. There is also a café where you can enjoy a cup of coffee with live music.
As to Korniakt’s palace, it was the residence of Polish king Jan III Sobieski in the 18th century. Now it houses the Lviv Historic Museum, in which there is an Exhibition of historic jewellery, (ladies will love it!) and furniture, paintings, old clocks, musical instruments, glass and porcelain art objects etc… Address: 6, Rynok Square, tel.: +38 032 72 0671. Tickets: adults UAH3-5, children - UAH1. Open from 10:00 to 17:00.
The next destination is Lviv’s main street, Svobody Avenue that ends at the Opera Theatre. Go see one of its operas or ballets, not only for the wonderful performance, but also to see the famous Parnassus curtain that rose for the first time on January 13, 1901. Roman artist Semyhradskyi painted it for the Lviv Opera at the end of the 19th century.
Address: 28, Svobody Avenue,
tel.: +38 032 72 8860, www.lvivopera.org,
e-mail: lvivopera@gmail.com.
Tickets: USD10.Ticket office hours: from 10:00 to 18:00.
One of the side streets on the right of the Opera leads you to the Dominican Cathedral, a prominent monument of baroque style built in 1764 from plans by engineer and architect Jan de Witte. The inscription on the façade reads Soli Deo Honor et Gloria (”Only To God Honour And Glory”). See the Cathedral at night: illuminated with 52 lamps, every detail sparkles with hundreds of colours. This absolutely marvellous sight now permanently attracts crowds of tourists and wedding processions. The Cathedral houses the Lviv museum of the history of religion.
Address: 1, Museum Square, tel.: +38 0322 72 0032, www.museum.lviv.ua.
Tickets to the museum: adults - UAH5, children - UAH2.
Opening hours: 10:00-18:00, closed on Mondays.
Beer and Beach
Should you feel cold after walking, head to one of Lviv’s numerous museums. For instance, visit the Museum of Beer. It is not an accident that it appeared here: Lviv beer was enjoyed throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It all began in the 15th century with the creation of a guild of brewers and its charter. Already in 1715, Lviv’s first brewery was making the world’s oldest beverage. The glorious history of beer comes alive in the unique displays of the museum: ancient beer bottles with trademarks embossed on the glass, glasses from various European countries, barrels, and even “secret beer documents” - recipes books from the end of the 19th century. If you reached legal age, you can also taste the heady brew.
Address: 18 Kleparivska Str., tel.: +38 032 294 8065, www.lvivske.lviv.ua.
Tickets: UAH15. Open from 10:30 to 18:00, closed on Tuesdays.
Another museum, Arsenal, presents a rich collection of antique weapons and armours from over 30 countries of the world. Gentlemen, you can have your photo taken in military armour for a small additional fee. 5,
Pidvalna Str., tel.: +38 032 272 1901, www.lhm.lviv.ua.
Tickets: adults - UAH3-5, children - UAH1.
Excursions: UAH20-50. Open from 10:00 to 17:00.
Feel like going to the beach in February? Interested? Aquapark “Pliazh” (”Beach”) awaits you! With an area of 5,5 thousand square meters, it offers nine slides, a 50-meter swimming pool, fitness centre, Turkish sauna, Jacuzzi, and bars.
114 Kniahyni Olhy Str.,
tel.: +38 0322 63 7062,
www.aqualviv.com.ua.
From Franko to Shevchenko
Lviv is famous not only for its ancient architecture but also for its wonderful parks. The first public park of the city, located opposite Lviv University, was founded at the end of the 16th century and named after Ivan Franko. Its highlights are three-century-old oak trees and maples.
Another, Stryskyi Park, was one of the most beautiful parks in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century. Today, it is the rendez-vous of couples in love and families with children, who come to look at the swans in the pond. Located between I. Franka, Stryiska, Samchuka and Kozelnytska Streets.
Vysokyi Zamok Park, located at the highest point in Lviv on Zamkova Hill, dominates the wonderful panorama of the city centre. Great photos guaranteed!
The open-air museum, Shevchenko Grove, is worth a separate visit. It is an architectural and ethnographic museum exhibiting 120 monuments of national architecture from various regions of Western Ukraine, 20 thousand household items and artefacts.
1, Chernecha Hora Str., tel.: +38 032 271 2360.
Tickets: UAH2.50 to 5.
Coffee and Souvenirs
A weekend in Lviv would not be complete without a cup of coffee in one of the Bohemian cafés, such as Picasso Club. Here you can sit at a table with young Ukrainian art gurus and, in the evening, enjoy live music performances.
Address: 88, Zelena Str., tel.: +38 032 275 3272, http://picasso.lviv.ua.
Tickets: UAH30-50.
Schedule: day café from 12:00 to 18:00, nightclub from 22:00. Closed on Tuesdays.
And do not forget to stock up on Lviv souvenirs! Look for them at the “Vernissage” art market behind the Opera (1 L. Ukrainky Str.) Here, they sell handmade ceramic bells, pots, beer mugs, wooden, leather and precious stones crafts. You can get a unique coffee set, tapestry, embroidered shirts, even caricatures on glass and funny T-shirts.
You did not have time to see all you wanted? Then you have a good reason to be back in Lviv again with your beloved!
LVIV FACTS AND FIGURES
Foundation: In 1256 by Prince Danylo Halytsky, who named the city named after his son, Lev.
Population: 830 000 citizens.
Heritage: 55% of all Ukrainian monuments of cultural significance and 1.5 million museum artefacts are in Lviv. Since 1998, Lviv has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Culture: In 1574, Ivan Fedorov printed the first book in Ukraine, “The Apostle” (Acts and Epistles). In 1848, launch of “Zorya Halytska”, the first newspaper in Ukrainian.
Arts: In 1864, creation in Lviv of the first Ukrainian professional theatre company.
Transportation: In 1861, building of the first Ukrainian railway from Lviv to Przemysl.
Sports: In 2007, designation of Lviv as one of Ukraine’s host cities of Euro 2012.
Event: June 27, 2001, a record number of people in the history of Ukraine, 1.5 million visitors, attended the Mass said by Pope John Paul II at the Lviv hippodrome.
Find map of Lviv in our Ukraine tourist guide
GETTING THERE
UIA offers non-stop daily flights from Kyiv to Lviv, flights from Madrid to Lviv, Frankfurt to Lviv.
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