They say that Lviv is a little Paris, a city built with the love of harmony, truly European charm and surprisingly sophisticated understanding of beauty. There is always a special atmosphere reign and style, which are reflected in everything: names of small shops and cafes, elegant facades of buildings, beautiful and original design showcases the interiors of historic buildings in the downtown area … At all times Lviv was well known in Europe. Not surprisingly, in 1618 he was mentioned in the “Inventory of the most prominent cities of the world”, published in Cologne. And 380 years later, in November 1998, Lviv officially included in the UNESCO list of monuments of world importance. By the way, in that time Lviv has been visited by Giacomo Casanova. He stayed in the Hotel “George”, as mentioned in his travel notes, and lamented the fact that the girls in Lviv were very beautiful but inaccessible. So they remain to this day.
Of course, all guests of Lviv seek primarily to visit the Market Square. For nearly six centuries it was the center of political, economic, social and cultural life of the city. Here were the magistrate, palaces and houses of eminent citizens, traded on it, to do judgment and punishment. Every structure in the central square of historic figures linked fate. Kornyakta house was once the residence of Polish King Jan Sobieski lll. Patrician house of Roberto Bandinelli from Tuscany. Palazzo Bandinelli known in the history of Lviv as an “office” in the first regular postal service, which was opened by an enterprising Italian.
The first pharmacy, which appeared in Lviv, more than two and a half centuries ago, is also located in the Market Square. Today it is located Pharmacy Museum. In general, the pharmaceutical industry and science in Lviv for centuries occupied a leading position in the world and have enjoyed the honor of citizens. Each pharmacy was of the original title, such as “Under the gold star” or “under the Hungarian crown.” It makes the famous aqua vitae – “water of life”, “tincture for longevity”, “balm of life,” a series of “miracle” elixirs and other drugs. Here were discovering a world scale. For example, in 1852, Lviv pharmacists Zeha I. and J. Lukasiewicz first got kerosene – rectified oil. And in March, 1853 in Lviv, the world’s first lighted kerosene lamp.
Feature of the architectural style of Lviv is the fact that each subsequent building of the city was made without destroying the previous one. Thus, today the city reveals to us the wonderful world in which organically combines Renaissance, Baroque, Classicism, eclectic, modern, constructivism … “Under the sky, and so much at such a star there was this beautiful city …” – wrote in the XVII century. Bartholomew Zimorovich, Lviv poet and historian.