It is a small, compact, historical, livable, calm and pedestrian-friendly city. It was a question mark for me to go to Lviv because of the security matters occuring in the eastern part of the Ukraine. I hesitated for such a travel plan. I made a reservation and cancelled, and made it again and cancelled, so forth. I bought tickets after waiting until the last week :)

I read lots of comments, blogs writings and it seemed really different to me. It is more european -very close to Poland boundary-, more historical and had a considerable amount of universty population. There is an european effects on their daily life and culture.

Lviv had been part of numerous states and empires including Poland, Austiran and later Austro-Hungarian Empires, Soviet Union. While being a part of different countries, Lviv borrowed some parts of culture and knowledge from invaders. Lviv has been recognized as the cultural capital of Ukraine 2009. The city is known as a center of art, literature, music and theatre. Lviv was also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List with its urban fabric and architecture. These features attracted me...

We reached to the city center by local transport -minibus- departing in front of the airport. When I first arrived to the center and came to the front side of the Opera House, I just felt as a google man :) What a hilarious scene... While making my travel plans, mostly I stroll around streets, places and some attraction points on the google maps via street view option accompanied by google man. And now this scene came in to real. You are just a small small person in a small small city...Really fabolous.

Rynok square has been the centre of cultural and commercial life of the city for years and it is the central square of Lviv. Rynok square also was recognized as a Unesco World Heritage site and is surrounded by conserved historical buildings dating back to 17th and 18th centuries. Some of them are the most beautiful examples of the Renaissance and Gothic architecture. The main attraction points are located around the square, so it is attractive, lively and crowded all day long.

Historical buildings, streets, parks were all balanced with each other. None of them was precluded the others in the city. 

While walking in the main streets of the city, I confronted with the sculptures of famous polish poet Adam Mickiewicz lived for a while and died in Galata, Istanbul. It is located in the Mickiewicz square.

Christmas Market in Rynok square, Lviv

Lviv also is known with its chocolate and coffees. I think it wouldn't be wrong to say that the city itself is like a bit of chocolate that you taste sweet at first, it gives you happiness from the first bite and makes you feel better. And you remember that it makes you happy when you eat again. Lviv is completely like that. It gives you pleasure and you are addicted to it and want to come back and see again to live this pleasure.