Lviv Local Custom Tips by hunterV Top 5 Page for this destination

Something Special

Like in any other Ukrainian city, a car license plate with four similar digits is a status thing. It cannot be bought for any money, but is a sign of well-connected people/tough guys.
However, Lviv is famous and unique in many ways.
Picture 1: BB 1111 BE : a VIP car in a street in Lviv. No comments :-) Just my respects to the ubiquitos "chosen few" guys with their neverending connections! (oops, may they forgive my free expression here)...
Picture 2: Lenin monument erected in Lviv in front of the Opera and Ballet Theater on January 20, 1952 was among the first Lenin monuments in Ukraine to be demolished by the outraged crowd after Ukraine had declared its independence. That monument cost a pretty penny in its time and was the only one where Lenin's name was written in Ukrainian. The material for the monument - the granite and bronze - were the best, which did not save the majestic monument from being savagely destroyed by the local patriots who despised Lenin and the entire Soviet way of life...
Picture 3: Central Hostel
Unlike many Ukrainian cities, Lviv has a hostel with affordable prices. It is located in the central square.
Tel. +38 097 222 41 36
5 Market Square
Besides, there are other hostels downtown and not far from it.
Picture 4 : Only Lviv has a Ukrainian partisans' restaurant, dedicated to the activities of the Ukrainian Insurgence Army - the place we visited with pleasure and had a good time there enjoying the fun of the "secret" ambience.
Picture 5: Only Lviv has a cemetery declared as the national museum - Lychakiv Cemetery that we visited and had deep impressions.

Memorial Plaques

You can see dozens, if not hundreds, of memorial plaques all over the city.
They are mostly dedicated to local heroes or famous people who used to live and work in Lviv.
Here are some of the memorial plaques I have seen and liked:

To Lesia Ukrainka,
a famous Ukrainian poetess;

to Prosvita Society;

at the City Hall;

to Yevhen Konovalets;

to Martha Chorna-Medeya,
a Ukrainian Insurgent Army's
liaison lady who was killed by the Nazis on May 23, 1943.

Website: http://visitlviv.net/en/

Fantasy and Creations Forever!

You can see a very special and funny little monument at the entrance to Dzyga.
It is called Smile and was created by Oleg Dergachov.
It is located at 35 Armenian Street.
I wonder what the artist meant by his creation... What I did was to walk round it, stand and ponder.
It was a pity all our group was not there for a common picture.
I went to this place after I had seen off all the group members to the railway station.
Perhaps next time we will all come up here.
I have never seen such funny monuments or a Smile monument in any city of Ukraine or Russia.

Other Contact: office@dzyga.com.ua

Phone: +38 032 275 21 01

Website: http://dzyga.com/index.php?lang=en

Art Store and Gallery

Armenian Street is closed by one of the buildings of the former Dominican monastery. At present it houses the city archives and Dzyga creative gallery.
It is one of the cultural hubs of Lviv.
This is where different creative parties are held: exhibitions, festivals, performances and conferences.
The founders of this art project call it ART terra of modern art for Ukrainian (and not only) artists who overcome space limited by four walls with their creations filling it with paiting, graphics, sculpture, installations, performances, happenings, icon paiting, word, with their souls, energy and charisma.
The entrance is free.
The gallery's name itself can have two meaning: the literal one: "whirligig" as a toy and the figurative one: fidget. I think they meant the figurative one.
There is an antiques store and a coffeehouse here.
You can see a very special and funny little monument at the entrance to Dzyga. It is called Smile and was created by Oleg Dergachov.

Other Contact: office@dzyga.com.ua

Phone: +38 032 275 21 01

Website: http://dzyga.com/index.php?lang=en

Traditional Art Festivals

Lions Parade became a traditional art festival in Lviv.
It takes place in September in Market Square.
You can lots of colored lions of natural size.
On those days Market Square becomes a place of numerous photo sessions.

Website: http://www.inlviv.info/home/

See You at the Fountain!

There are four fountains with sculptures representing mythological figures around Market Square:
- on the south-western side –
Neptune fountain;
- on the north-western side –
Amphitrite fountain;
- on the north-eastern side -
Adonis fountain;
- on the south-eastern side -
Diana fountain.
The fountain figures were made by Hartman Witwer (1774-1825) out of limestone.
They embody the allegory of earth (the sculptures of Diana and Adonis) and water (the sculptures of Neptune and Amphitrite).
The Market Square figures were created between 1810 and 1814.
These fountains are a good meeting point for people, especially for the first-time visitors of Lviv.
One of the first pictures of the entire group of VT Meeting participants was made in front of Amphitrite fountain.

City of Festivals

There are a lot of unique city festivals that no other Ukrainian or Russian city can boast of:
Bear Festival;
Coffee Festival;
Chocolate Festival;
Cooks’ Festival;
Waiters’ Festival;
Musical Arts Festival;
Ethno-Jazz Festival;
Days of Lviv
(a city festival observed on the second weekend of May
with a lot of colorful events)
and others.
When we had lunch at Gallery Cafe, we saw the participants of the International Children's Painting Festivals called Young Talents Under the Patronage of King Daniel and the Golden Easel competition.
That festival was taking place at Merchants' Tower center in Liberty Avenue.
We saw a lot of amazing kids' pictures and handicrafts. Good luck in the future, kids! :-)
City Festivals

In Rainy Weather

Kinopalats at 22 Theater Street is a nice place to hide from the terrible rain and storm that often happen here in Lviv.
I enjoyesd my walk, but when the rainy weather became unbearable, I decided to see a new movie at this place.
It was Prince of Persia.
The ticket price was 35 UAH.
I enjoyed every minute of it!
Answering machine: +38 032 297 50 50;
Ticket reservation: +38 032 297 50 05.

Other Contact: +38 032 297 50 50

Phone: +38 032 297 50 05

Website: http://www.kinopalace.lviv.ua

Latin Metropolitan Cathedral

Latin Cathedral is the main Roman-Catholic church in Lviv.
It was the first site we saw in Market Square. The cathedral was founded in 1349.
It was constructed during the centuries and absorbed the styles of different epochs.
There are precious relics in the central altar of the church, among them the wonder-working Icon of the Virgin Mary the Gentle.
You can see a memorial plaque dedicated to the visit of Pope John Paul II who attended a mass here on June 26, 2001.
The Chapel of the Boim Family is the only remaining part of the cathedral cemetery. It is located on the site.
See also:
Interactive Map of Lviv

Popular Handicrafts

There is a traditional market of popular handicrafts in the square located behind the Opera and Ballet Theater. This place is mostly for foreigners who have no time to look for good souvenirs at small shops around the city.
This is where you can buy a lot of souvenirs to take home with you: pictures, postcards, clothes and what not.
You can negotiate the price here, but the discount is usually not more than 5-10 UAH ($1).