Lviv

It is situated not far from the western border of Ukraine, in the Carpathian foothills area and occupies the territory more than 155 sq km
Its population is about 830 thousand people.
Lviv is the largest economical, industrial, cultural and touristy centre of Western Ukraine. It has highly developed infrastructure. There are many restaurants, and shops as well as those that sell all manner of goods including expensive top of the line western made goods and appliances.
It is home to many high-tech industries, higher education institutions and world-famous historical landmarks.
Near 45 different museums: The Arsenal, The Palace of Arts, The Museum of Religion (formerly Museum of Atheism) and The National Museum (formerly Museum of Industry) The Apothecary-museum and Museum of Applied Arts (The Museum of Ethnography and Crafts) are most popular of them.
A huge quantity of temples, churches and chapels
Over 10 art galleries
12 theatres
The Philharmonic
The Circus
The Hall of Organ music (the instrument is the largest in Ukraine – it was brought just before the WW2 from Czech and still sounds amazingly!)
Old parks and historical preserves

Some facts from the history

Founded in the 13th century by Prince Danylo Ghalytskiy, Lviv was for another hundred years the western gateway of the Kyiv Rus. In the 14th century the area was seized by the Polish Kingdom and remained under the Polish reign till 1772. Then it came under the power of the Austrian (from 1867 on - Austro-Hungarian) Empire. In October 1918 the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed, and the Western Ukrainian People's Republic (ZUNR) was proclaimed. However, it existed only few months. In summer 1919 the western Ukraine and Lviv were annexed to Poland. In September 1939, as the result of the division of Poland by Berlin and Moscow, the western Ukraine became a part of the USSR. In June 1941 Lviv was seized by the Nazi, occupation lasted till July 1944. From that time the western Ukraine together with the rest of Ukraine was a part of the USSR till August 1991.