The Armenian Cathedral is one of the oldest landmarks in Lviv. It is also the main shrine of one of medieval Lviv’s largest communities, the Armenians. For a long time, this unique temple was the center of religious and cultural life for the Armenians, who played an important role in Lviv’s history. The Cathedral is currently located in the historical center, standing on a place of the former Arme

Koktebel is a popular resort on the southeastern coast of Crimea, famous for its splendid landscapes, wide pebble beaches, and healing air. It is situated not far from Feodosiya, at the foot of the famous Karadag mountain range. In Crimean Tatar language, the name Koktebel means the ‘land of blue hills.’ The precise date of settlement’s foundation is not known. It is known, however, that in the m

Kara Dag is one of the most amazing wonders on the peninsula, the most beautiful and the most mysterious corner of southeastern Crimea. It is an ancient dead volcano, which was active over 150 million years ago, in the Jurassic period. At that time, according to scientists, it was submerged under water, along with the rest of the peninsula. Kara Dag, in Turkic, means ‘Black Mountain.’ This dark g

Mangup Kale is the biggest cavern fortress on the Crimean peninsula. It is located at the top of Mangup Mountain that stands above three picturesque valleys. The plateau, located at the height of almost 600 meters (1,968 feet) above the sea level, has a peculiar form: from above, it looks like a palm with four capes acting as ‘fingers.’ Nature made this area impregnable: on three sides, the platea

The ‘cavern fortress’ Chufut Kale is one of the most shining and the best-preserved medieval landmarks of the peninsula. It is located near Bakhchisaray (around 3 km, or 2 miles) on a mountain plateau with precipices 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) above sea level. It may be said that nature created this fort, and people have only strengthened and improved its defenses. To be fair, it should be mentioned

‘Olvia’ is a national historical and archaeological conservation area, located in the Mykolaiv region, not far from Ochakiv. Located at the place of an ancient Greek colony, which was built in the 6th century BC and was one of the largest ancient city-states on the northern Black Sea coast. Spacious steppes, estuaries merged with the sea, springs struggling to make their way through the bottom of

‘Askania-Nova’ is one of the oldest and largest biosphere reserves in Europe, located in a remote part of the Kherson steppe. Nowadays, this unique island of primordial nature, where live many rare animal species and exotic plants, is recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine and is a part of the world network of UNESCO’s biosphere reserves. A lover of nature, baron Friedrich Falz-Fein, e

The huge desert that spreads over several districts of the Khersons’ka Oblast’ is one of the most striking places in southern Ukraine. Oleshky Sands is the biggest sand area in Ukraine, and some even call it the only desert in Europe. The sands, located near the lower reaches of the Dnieper River, have existed for many centuries, but the desert – in form that we know it today – appeared relativel

Local residents call Demerdzhi the peninsula’s most valuable treasure. And no wonder: it is one of the most attractive and mysterious mountains in Crimea. The mountain gets its mystery from the unyielding haze that changes its colors like chameleon, dressing up Demerdzhi in multi-colored ‘clothes.’ In the Middle Ages, the mountain was named Funa, which means ‘fuming.’ The present name of the moun