Ivano-Frankivsk lies in the Precarpathian plain where fast waters of the Nadvirnianska Bystrytsia and Solotvynska Bystrytsia join together. Ivano-Frankivsk is the regional center and one of the largest economic and cultural centers in the west of Ukraine.

Ivano-Frankivsk started life as a fortress on the Bystritsa River, which was built to protect the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth from repeated Tatar invasions. This is done quite well and it wasn't long before the city-fortress began to grow under the safety provided by this fortification. It was first mentioned in history in 1662 when it was granted the Magdeburg rights.

The city went on to survive not only Tatar attacks but also those thrust upon it but invading Turkish and Russian forces. The Renaissance was a period of extensive growth and rebuilding which lead to it becoming a somewhat more picturesque city. In fact it gained the nickname "little Leopolis" - Leopolis being the Latin name for Lviv.

In 18-19 centuries the city was a big trading and manufacturing center of Poland and from 1772 - of Austria (since 1867 - of Austro-Hungarian Empire). Except Ukrainians, a certain contribution in development of crafts and culture was made by Polish, Jews and Armenians whose national communities were quite numerous.

Eventually, in 1962, the name was changed to Ivano-Frankivsk after the Ukrainian writer Ivan Franko. The 1990s saw it become one of the centers of the Ukrainian independence movement.

Today the city stands up proudly in its own right. It is a pretty city with both a victorious and sad history, which is interesting to explore should you have the time.