To cognize all the beauty of ancient Lviv, one should go out of noisy central streets, stroll along Zhovkivske suburb and visit the Old Market Square. It was here that the history of Lviv has started. Tradesmen’s houses with green gardens and rich soil were spread around. A church and a majestic castle like a guardian were rising over them. Royal Lviv was one of the top cities among contemporary East-European cities.
St. Nicholas Church was the main church of royal Lviv. It was located under the Royal Palace. This church is considered to be the oldest in Lviv. Another church that dates back to royal times is St. Onufriy’s minster. Chroniclers narrate that prince Lev presented monks with miraculous icon of Holy Virgin that had allegedly been painted by St. Luke. Here Ivan Fedorov opened the oldest Ukrainian printing house – the event that had a tremendous cultural meaning for the city. Until recenly there has been the tombstone of the pioneer which had disappeared without a trace…
St. Paraskeva’s church with its antique iconostas of 16th c. that is considered the most beautiful in Galicia is the most majestic of all royal churches. The walls of the church were decorated by talented Luka Dolynskyi.
Besides Orthodox churches, John the Baptist Cathedral can be found nearby Old Market Square. Prince Lev’s wife Konstancia, daughter of a Hungarian king Bella IV, was visiting it every Sunday. The cathedral was founded back in 13th c. and later restructured in Neoromantic style. Close out near Krakow square, there is Maria Snizhna’s (the Snowy) Cathedral. It is the oldest parish cathedral in Lviv founded by German colonists in 14th c.
The history of Royal Lviv is slowly fading. So, hurry up to catch a glance at the world of Danylo Halytskyi and prince Lev before the reality turns into a legend.
Price:
Ukrainian-speaking guide – 120 UAH/hour
Foreign language speaking guide – 140 UAH/hour
