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.

The first mention of the city named Stanyslaviv refers to 1662 when the city received a Magdeburg right. The city was founded as a fortress to protect people from Crimean Tatars’ raids and a stronghold of the Pototskyis – Polish landlords on Halych lands. Many times the fortress was besieged by Turkish and Russian troops.
The inhabitants of Ivano-Frankivsk and Halychyna gladly accepted democratic changes in 90’s and became a driving force of all the events. The blue and yellow national flags were already raised over the city in 1990 and during the referendum in 1991, people voted for independence of Ukraine.

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-Frankivsk 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).

Ivano-Frankivsk is a large center of mechanical engineering, wood-processing, chemical and light industry. The Precarpathian University named after V. Stefanyk, the Ivano-Frankivsk State Technical University of Oil and Gas, the Medical Academy, the Spiritual Institute of the Greek-Catholic Church train their students to become skilled specialists. There is bus and railway communication with Bulgaria, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Romania and Baltic countries. Planes come and go to Manchester (Great Britain), Moscow (Russia).
Ivano-Frankivsk has a population of 240 thousand people.

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