Houses made of multi-colored tuff, wide squares, a heavenly cascade and crazy sculptures are all about Yerevan. But the impression of the place usually consists not only of the main attractions, but of the general ensemble, diluted with interesting modern places. And in the capital of Armenia, both are well off! There are many temples, old houses and streets, but next to them there are modern restaurants, themed bars and the best casinos in Yerevan.
One of the main attractions of Yerevan is an architectural composition called «Cascade». Recently it has been transformed into a center for contemporary art. Climbing to the very top of an infinite number of steps, one can see the panorama of the whole city and the distant outlines of Mount Ararat. At the foot of the «Cascade» and throughout its length are unusual sculptures. Most remembered is the lion from the tires of the Korean sculptor Yong Ho Ji.
Echmiadzin is the first Christian church in the world (303). King Vagarsh founded this city, and a century and a half he was even the Armenian capital. This is one of the main Armenian shrines, the spiritual center of Armenia. Every Armenian is obliged to be here, no matter how far from his homeland he lived, wherever he was born.
The ruins of the Zvarnots temple are located 10 kilometers west of Yerevan, on the highway leading from Yerevan to Echmiadzin (Vagharshapat). In 2000 they were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
I would like to tell about the market in Yerevan separately. And not even so much about the market, as about the abundance of fruits and vegetables, spices, sweets, souvenirs, various gizmos and modern, and even Soviet times, it is not clear what they do on the shelves. And about the people selling all this, friendly with an open smile, with a sly look in his eyes.
One of the most vivid impressions is absolutely unexpected for you to become a blue mosque. Yes, it is a bit unusual to walk around Muslim temples in the country that first adopted Christianity as the state religion, but it just so happened. Despite the location in the center of the city, the mosque is not easy to find, it is located in the courtyards, and it is not immediately visible.
It is quite clear that there are many temples of the Armenian Apostolic Church here — strict, concise, and with this something similar to the Protestant ones. And yet, quite special. Among them stands the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator. When you walk up the stairs to it, it looks huge, and somehow unreal, not from this time and space.
In Yerevan, you can walk endlessly through the streets of the city, but at the end of the inspection you should definitely go up to the observation platform, the one that is even higher than the cascade, and look at the wide open Yerevan up to the mountains of Yerevan with Mother Armenia.
There is also an aqua park “Water Park” in Yerevan, so travelers with children will easily find where to spend a pleasant day. It was designed by the famous Spanish company Action Park Company and is designed not only for children, but also for adults. The park has several swimming pools, as well as a network of cafes, restaurants and attractions.
Adult travelers who are looking for something unusual in the city can recommend a visit to the casino. But keep in mind that they are all outside the city limits. The most respectable place is Shangri La. The unit is a part of an international network managed by Michael Boettcher’s Storm International. The place is popular not only among the players, but also among gourmets, as the complex has an excellent restaurant serving authentic cuisine. Connoisseurs of gourmet dishes often come for an exquisite dinner, shared Darren Keane, Storm International.
