Ivano-Frankivsk

About

Ivano-Frankivsk was founded in 1662 by Andrzej Potocki as a castle to defend against the Crimean Tatars. The city grew in importance over the centuries, and flourished as a trade and crafts center. The West Ukrainian People's Republic, which only existed from 1918 to 1919 even used Ivano-Frankivsk as its capital. The heart of the city is its old Market Square, surrounded by charming historic houses. However, Ivano-Frankivsk is unique in that it has the only modernist Town Hall in Ukraine, which now houses the tourist information center (the first in the country), and a small museum. Nearby, visitors will find the Late Baroque Orthodox Cathedral - a former Armenian Church with an opulently ornamented interior. The Church of Virgin Mary is the oldest building in the city, and was originally the burial vault for the Potocki family. Today it houses an art museum exhibiting everything from Galician icons to works from Italian painters.