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Long battled over by warring countries (Turkey
and Russia), the city of Yerevan survived hundreds
of years of foreign invasion and gained full independence only after
the downfall of the USSR .
This capital city is the heart of Armenia, a rugged country
located along the Little Caucasian Mountains, characterized by deep
gorges, lakes, and rushing rivers. Most people speak the Armenian language,
which is unlike any other and has its own alphabet.
The city of Yerevan has a strong artistic tradition that
includes religious music and the making of
decorative stone carvings called khatchkars. Geghard Church is perched against a
rock in the gorge of the Granny River, southeast of
Yerevan City.
Armenia is also the first country in the world to
make Christianity its official religion.
When To Go:With a chilly semi-dry atmosphere, Yerevan
experiences prolonged and humid summers and cool
winter seasons.
The winter season (March to April) is not a favorite
time to visit because of cold footpaths and foggy roads
especially along the mountainside. Other times of the year are better for a
vacation, especially the long summer season (June
to September).
Spring (October until November) offers a pleasant yet frequently wet climate, with loads of green slopes
and wildflowers. Summer is extremely hot, however the
long, late nights at the bistros, and the seasonal,
locally-grown foods are stunning.
The season of Autumn (January to February) is also very popular, with
flawless climate and clear skies over the city.
Visit these top attractions and the great variety of
things to do when in Yerevan City:
The Monastery of GeghardThe Monastery of Geghard
is one of the most beautiful monasteries in
Armenia. This monastery is about an hour's drive from
Yerevan and a visit is absolutely necessary --along with one to the
beautiful temple of Garni,
which is a bit older (it is the first Greek temple to the
East of the Mediterranean world.) The place is
spectacular because it is surrounded by mountains. Particularly interesting are
the adjacent cells of the monks: tiny rooms carved
into the living rock.
Very nice to look at are the ancientkhatchkar that are in front of the cels and the doors, and the bas-reliefs
of the main church.If you visit on a Sunday
morning you will be able to attend Holy Mass (11 am
as in all Armenian churches).
The service is not to be missed (you can
photograph and film without problems), for
both the celestial songs that go with it and for the actual celebration of the
Mass that in general projects a kind of elevated
mysticism.
Outside there are interesting and photogenic food stalls that are located
across the parking lot, selling mainly the
characteristic sweet bread of Yerevan City.
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site,
this monastery carved into the rock is full of silence
and charm, like all monasteries of this enchanted land. St.
Gregory the Illuminator founded it, after he came upon a cave where there
was a spring of water that is considered sacred.
. If you want to enjoy an adventure in mysticism, wear comfortable shoes
and bring enough drinking water to hydrate you during the short hike.
Immerse yourself completely in the medieval
atmosphere!
Matenadaran (The Museum of Ancient Manuscripts)
A visit to the Matenadaran (Museum of Ancient
Manuscripts) is a fundamental step toward understanding Armenia’s
significant responsibility in preserving its civilization is
all about.
It is highly recommended to visit this museum if you
are on a journey to Armenia. The beauty of
the manuscripts preserved here is unspeakable and full of interest. The tour
guide is even more interesting and
will also help you better understand the profound spirituality that pervades this unique population.
Unfortunately, the extraordinary ancient culture of Armenia is
absolutely misunderstood, if not unknown.
This interesting museum makes up for that
shortcoming by providing the opportunity to see a
rich collection of manuscripts from various
eras of the Armenian language, and the
evolution of its whole varied alphabet.
The statue of Mesrop Mashtots -- the father of the
alphabet as well as the individual credited with unifying the population,
greets visitors at the entrance of the dark building.
This museum of ancient manuscripts is housed in a
modern building;
more than 15,000 unique testimonies of the Armenian culture and civilization are included in the collection.
The gray color and metallic structure of the building's exterior clashes with the
bright and well-lit fixtures of the large rooms and its
interior corridors.
The manuscripts are very valuable and cover all kinds of religious, historical, and ethnographic details about
Armenia. All of the manuscripts are dated as far back as the Middle Ages and Renaissance era, and they
are not allowed to be photographed.
This museum holds the heart of civilization, culture and
spirituality of the Armenian people.
Khor Virap MonasteryAlthough there are many
monasteries in Armenia, and perhaps some are a bit similar to each other, The Khor Virap Monastery is a big exception.
It is often referred to by locals as the little
Armenian Petra, as part of the monastery is carved into the rock. When you come to visit, you will be extremely impressed with
the dark and damp atmosphere --through
which you can glimpse the few beams of light that
illuminate the rooms and the sacred engravings carved
into the rock. All this is made even more impressive by the sound of the small waterfall that washes sacred part of
the salt. This is considered a holy place in Armenia.
The monastery with Mount Ararat in the background is an image widely known in this country, even for
those who have never set foot on its grounds. It has become a significant place both in its own right and
because of this mountain.
Just across the border is the Turkish territory. The
monastery is built on what was once the place of imprisonment of St.
Gregory the Illuminator, the much-acclaimed
evangelizer of Armenia who was held for 13 years
in a well and
then released after curing the same King who had
captured and tortured him. This act was considered a
miracle and led to the adoption of Christianity
the King and all of Armenia.
In this picturesque monastery (the first you find going from
Yerevan to Goris and the Karabakh Nagarno) you can still see the incredible well
where St. Gregory survived for so many years. The structure
of the monastery is still original, even if only partially rebuilt after the earthquake of
1998.
It is a must-see attraction in Yerevan (about a half-day trip from the city.) A tip: wear comfortable pair of sneakers, otherwise you will not be able to get off
the vertical scale that leads through a narrow opening at the symbolic
well of St. Gregory.
Parajanov MuseumThe visit to this house-museum
of film director Sergei Parajanov is extremely
interesting and allows for appreciating the creativity of
an artist as well as an important director (The
Legend of the Fortress of Suram, The Color of
Pomegranates, etc.).
The Parajanov Museum is the last residence of its eclectic and irreverent
artist who was opposed to life under the Soviet
regime, and yet greatly admired for his films with
Fellini and other major international filmmakers
who were his contemporaries.
The Armenian traditional home also houses some paintings, photographs,
and weird inventions that are truly amazing.
Yerevan Republic SquareThis square is the nerve
center of the capital; from here
you can branch off to the main roads that connect the downtown with the neighborhoods of the
capital and other major attractions. The Yerevan Republic Square,like the
other former Soviet capitals, is very large.
It is home to the main offices of the ministries,
with their interesting mix of architecture -- and
includes vestiges of Soviet Armenia, along with the
Armenian History Museum and the National Gallery.
If you visit the Square, you must see the big fountain
with beautiful water features -- accompanied by a
choreography of classical music and colored lights,
whose beams carry amazing designs and shapes making
the show even more charming and fascinating.
Along with all the other sights and attractions, the Republic Square is sure to top your list of things to
do and see while in Yerevan. It is stunning,
especially at night!Republic Square is not only the geographical center of the capital
Yerevan
but also the symbolic center of the whole of Armenia. It is large,
circular in character, and full of life. During the day,
the buildings on the square are full of meetings
-- many of the most important offices of the
Armenian government are there.
At night the area is filled with people, the large fountain is
illuminated and the water moves together in harmony with the notes of the most
beautiful music in the world. It is a very pleasant gathering
place that is surrounded by pedestrian streets with nice shops and amazing locals.
The CascadeThe Cascade is one of the best gathering-places to
check out after the Republic Square. Located near the
center of Yerevan, it's a long flight of steps with four intermediate stops that feature fountains and
monuments.
For those who do not want to work hard, there are
escalators provided indoors. It is another
wonderful place to spend your free time visiting with friends -- especially if you are young, because the
area is a hangout place for young boys and girls.
Or just enjoy a short walk along its promenade after dinner, although it is not
recommended to climb the whole staircase on a full
stomach -- the stairs seem to never end!
There are beautiful illuminated fountains at every level of the giant staircase, and perhaps
even better is the small garden in front of the huge monument; it is very well maintained, well
lit and has an exhibition of artworks including some
typically exaggerated statues by the important Colombian sculptor Fernando Botero.
The internal staircase also presents some beautiful works of modern art, and the Swarovski museum is housed on the premises at the foot of the stairs. It is
all well worth a visit despite the many steps to climb -- really a must for
anyone who is in Armenia.
This square also has a great view of the Caucassian
Mountains.Garni
Garni is an ancient pagan temple built in Greek / Roman/ Hellenistic style architecture
and is a testament to the ancient splendor of this city. It
is like the Parthenon in the heart of the rocky Armenia!
There is no other way to describe this amazing neo-classical Greek temple that stands on a rocky outcrop
overlooking a valley characterized by long and
amazing rock formations. Do not miss a visit to the ruins of
the Roman baths -- where some original mosaics are still
well preserved.
An area that cannot be missed -- because it offers more
insight into its people -- is the nearby community. The
farming village shows various aspects of poverty with dignity and humanity; they sell many
things beside their fruit stands (dry goods that you can take
home as a souvenir).
Not far from the temple you can also enjoy a
typical lunch: you can really observe Armenian tradition, because before sitting down at the table you will be shown how to
prepare the meal together with the entire family --
you
learn how they bake their own bread (thin, flat bread with a hint of Sardinia), and grill their meat and fish. Do
not expect great wine for it is not a land of wine -- but the
beer is very good.Tsitsernakaberd
The Tsitsernakaberd is a place of melancholic memory.
This is definitely the darkest of all monuments
in Yerevan, but that is why it is justified: this area is home to the important
memorial in honor of the victims of the Armenian
Genocide.
The memorial is a unique monument consisting of 12
blocks the center of which is the Eternal Flame -- the real heart of the Memorial and
the place where anyone can lay a flower in memory of the
victims.Noteworthy also is the high obelisk-shaped stem and
the park with little pine trees that have been
planted by foreign leaders during official visits. The beautiful thing about the
place is that you can admire Mount Ararat in all
its grandeur.
On the grounds of the memorial is a museum with an exhibition of photographs that are
rather crude -- pictures taken during the genocide
and deportation of survivors. Although this
may be a particularly sad event in Armenia’s history,
the memory is one you will never forget when you
visit Yerevan city.The memorial is in the shape of a flower that
opens, a sign that Armenia is destined to be reborn,
the Flame that burns perpetually feeds the
memory, and the Garden with the inscriptions bears witness to the passage of
distinguished visitors. Those who forget the
mistakes of the past are condemned to repeat
them,
so it is a civic duty and moral power to preserve a nation’s historical memory no matter how painful it is.
Caucasian MountainsThe Caucasian Mountains offer enchanting scenery alternating with barren rocks and upland plains,
blue skies and a horizon full of colors. In particular, one of the best things to do while here is
to climb the Selim Pass at almost 7900 feet high, in
order to visit the complex of Caravanserai. It really shows evidence of what was one of
the most important stations of the Silk Road era.
What is striking in the Caucasian highlands of
Armenia is the great diversity of flora -- present
in abundance in some areas and completely absent in others, both
ends of the spectrum full of incomparable beauty.
The same is true of the views of Mount Ararat and Mount Aragat from its top portion.
History Museum of Armenia
The History Museum of Armenia is located in the city
center and preserves the ancient remains and relics of
Armenian civilization,
its birth and evolution. Particular emphasis must
be given to the geographic maps carved on stone, the pottery, and the paintings
hanging on the walls of the museum. They
represent the evolution and
development of the Armenian kingdom over
the century that has passed since its peak --
from an area of about 116 squaremiles to the current almost 10 thousand square
miles. This great little country has its own historical museum
that is linked to the legend of the birth of the nation
or the Armenian Hayastan. The town of Hayk is well
described in this museum especially through the
ancient scrolls and books with its strong Middle East
and Persian influence.
From north to south, through places ranging from high mountains, to plains to verdant rocky cliffs, the
Yerevan area is an awesome city to discover. You can go
through so many attractions and each of them will offer
something different, interesting bits of information,
and
new things to discover about a historic place. One of the greatest assets of
this large city is undoubtedly the immense and boundless landscape, with majestic mountains and countless rivers that
frame and shape the surrounding territory.
The best reward is that Yerevan offers unique and breathtaking scenery and a plethora of things to do.