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

The city, named Stanislaviv, was erected as a fortress to protect the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from Tatar invasions. It was built on the site of the village of Zabolotiv, which had been known since 1435. The village and the land around it was bought by Stanislaw Rewera Potocki from another Polish nobleman Rzeczkowski. The area was utilized for recreations and particularly for hunting. The city's name was later coined by the son of Stanislaw, Polish nobleman Andrzej Potocki commemorating it to his father.

Andrzej received the Magdeburg rights for his city from the hands of Jan Casimir in 1662. The first architector of the Stanislaviv castle was from Avignon, Francisco Corasini when Andrzej initiated the redesignation of Zabolotiv village into the city of Stanislav in 1650.

Many times the fortress was besieged by Turkish and Russian troops

In 1772, after the Partitions of Poland it became a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

In 1866 the city was connected to the railway network. At around that time series of plants and factories were built. On September 28, 1868 Stanislaviv experienced a major disaster. The city was engulfed in a big fire which destroyed the third of the city and completely wiped the market place of the town. The city required a major renovation and was almost completely rebuilt.

During the World War in 1915-1916 there were cruel battles over the city. Part of historic buildings was destroyed and then restored in new architectural forms.

In October 1918, the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed, and the Western Ukrainian People's Republic (ZUNR) was proclaimed.

From January to May 1919 the city was the capital of the West Ukrainian National Republic. The same year it was a subject of Polish–Ukrainian skirmishes, and it eventually was annexed by Poland as part of the Second Polish Republic as the capital of the Stanislaviv Voivodship. It was occupied by the Romanian army between May 25 and August 21, 1919.

From 1944, it became part of the Soviet Union. The Soviets forced most of the Polish population to leave the city, most of them settled in the Recovered Territories.

In 1962 the city celebrated its 300-anniversary. It was renamed to Ivano-Frankovsk after a famous Ukrainian writer and public figure Ivan Franko who had come here more than once, made good friends, wrote and recited his works.

After the fall of the Soviet Union in August 1991, Ukraine gained its independence. And the city became a strong center of the Ukrainian independence movement.

Now Ivano-Frankovsk is a large center of mechanical engineering, wood-processing, chemical and light industry. It is also one of the most important cultural centers of Ukaine.

Stanyslaviv was originated from the Market square and City Hall, which can be seen today having been modified. The Reneissanse architectural ideas of "the ideal city" were reflected in the construction that followed. These ideas were used for planning a middle part of the city, its streets and churches. Because of the originality the of architecture sometimes our city is called "small 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.

The second half of the 19th century is marked by fast development of industrial relations and creating enterprises. The railway built in 1866 made some impact, too. At that time the locomotive repair factory, distillery, leather plant "Plai" were established.

In all times Ivano-Frankovsk was also a big cultural center.

Every year in August they celebrate a City Day with concerts of folklore and art ensembles. The Christmas parade of verteps (Christmas plays) from January 1 to January 14 on the streets and squares of the city is a spectacular sight.

Also Ivano-Frankovsk is famous for its all-Ukrainian festival of art ensembles "Precarpathian Spring" (in May every year), festival of a national and patriotic song and poetry "Volia" (Freedom) (in October odd years), international festival of metal workers, festival-exhibition of national art (in September every year).

Transport

Due to Ivano-Frankovsk geographical position, there is bus and railway communication with Bulgaria, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Romania and Baltic countries.

Ivano-Frankovsk International Airport, Ukrainian (IATA: IFO, ICAO: UKLI) is an airport bordering Ivano-Frankovsk, Ukraine, some 4.4 km (2.7 mi) by road from the town center. Ivano-Frankovsk airport is an international airport with frontier and customs control since 1992. The airport traffic capacity is claimed to be 400 passengers per hour.

Nowdays it sends everydays flight to Kyiv,two times a week –to Italy and four times-to Turkey.

According to the preparation plans for Euro-2012(World Football Cup), from April 2010 Ivano-Frankovsk airport will start to accept and send international flightes of all parts of the world.

Climate

The climate of Ivano-Frankovsk is continental. Winters are mild with an average temperature in January of –5 C. Summers are warm with an average temperature in July of +18 C. In the Carpathians, the climate is more severe and it changes with the elevation. Average temperatures are lower by 3-5 degrees than in the pre-mountain zone. Such climatic conditions facilitate year-round rest and vacation, as well as treatment. Snow covers the slopes of the Carpathians up to five months of the year, which promotes the development of downhill skiing.

Monuments

The Ivano-Frankovsk Region is proud of its cultural and historic inheritance. 3,5 thousand monuments of history and culture within the region are protected by the state. Such monuments as St. Pantelimon Church near Halych (12 century), Holy Spirit Church with an artistic iconostasis in Rohatyn (14 century), Maniavskyi Skyt (17 century), plus wooden Hutsul and Boiko churches are well-known outside the country.

Museums

Ivano-Frankovsk Regional Ethnography and Local Lore Museum was opened in 01.05.1940 in a house on 7 Galitska Str. Here the following departments worked: history, natural, folklore and book depository.The museum of education of Prycarpattya was created in 1980 at the Ivano-Frankovsk state pedagogical institute named after Vasil’ Stefanyk. Hundred exhibits on the area of 200 sq.m. demonstrate the national education development in the region from times of Kyiv Rus’ till the present.In «Family professions Museum» there are durably restored plough and harrow, age-old spinning wheel and ceramic crockery, artistic weaving, blacksmith's instruments represented.

The regional Prycarpattya Literary Museum was opened on May, 16, 1986. The display of museum tells about development of literary process of our land from the oldest times to the present.The Ivano-Frankovsk Regional Art Museum is the treasury of fine art of land. Its collection, began in 1980, engulfs unique sights of Halych’ icon-painting and barocco sculpture, works of classics of West-Ukrainian art: Kornil Ustinovych, Ivan Troush, Yaroslav Pstrak, Julian Dan’kevych, Olexa Novakivskiy, Osyp Sorokhtey, Olena Kul’chitska; works of the Ukrainian artists of the second half of the ХХ century, and also works of Polish, Austrian, German and Italian masters of XVIII-XX centuries.

Bank and Money

At the bigining of XXI century Ivano-Frankovsk, due to its geografical position(the nearness to the western state borders and, in the same time, safety of the place) was chosen like the most suitable region for realizaton of the project “Ukrainian Small Switzerland”. According to this project, almoust 60 bank companies have already appeared in the city, some of which succesfuly cooperate with international banks, among them:”AJ IO”, ”VA-Bank”, ”Swedbank”, ”Raiffeisen bank “Aval””,etc. Bankomats are at your disposal in all accessible public places of the city.

There is no problem for visitors to exchange any foreign currency both by cash and by credit card all over the city.