Yerevan, the capital of the Armenian Republic is a contemporary metropolis with an ancient history. At the foot of Ararat a large Urartian cuneiform inscription unequivocally attest that a few decades before the foundation of Rome, on the Arin-Berd hill in 782 B.C. the city of Erebuni, today’s Yerevan, was founded. Yerevan is currently 2803 years old.
Yerevan looks like a bunch of pink stone flowers. The most beautiful “flower” of this bouquet is the center of Yerevan with numerous splendid buildings and constructions. Yerevan is the city of festivals, with a wide range of theatrical performances, operas, concerts and cultural events that take place throughout the year…
Detailed program
Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Relax.
Yerevan, the capital of the Republic of Armenia is a lively metropolis with an ancient history dating back to 782 BC. Yerevan is located in a valley surrounded by hills. It overlooks the Ararat plain dominated by Mount Ararat covered with perennial snows. Visit to the main monuments of Yerevan: Republic Square, Opera Square, the Northern Avenue, Abovyan street, Cascade square, etc. Visit to the small 13th century church called Katoghike. We will visit the dried fruit and spices market and after the market we will meet the sculptors of khachkar. Before or after the dinner night walk of the city stopping and admiring the musical Fountains, destination of walks and place of evening shows. Dinner in an artistic place where you can taste the typical dishes of Yerevan. Overnight in Yerevan.
After breakfast, we will start discovering the museums of Yerevan. Visit to Matenadaran: a museum and research centre where about 18,000 ancient manuscripts are kept. After Matenadaran we will continue our journey towards the Republic Square where are located the History Museum of Armenia with its collection of 400 000 exponents from antiquity to the present and the National Gallery of Armenia which houses important collections of Russian and Western European art, as well as the largest collection of the Armenian art in the world. Lunch in a typical Yerevan tavern and after lunch we will visit the Aram Khachaturyan House-Museum, the Armenian composer, conductor, founder of Armenian symphonic music and one of the patriarchs of Armenian classical music. Surely the most famous piece of Khachaturyan is the Saber Dance (or Dance of the swords) taken from the ballet “Gayane”. Overnight in a hotel in Yerevan.
After breakfast we will departure for the Kotayk region where we will visit the pagan temple of Garni, an ionic temple built in the Hellenistic period (77 AD) on a triangular promontory surrounded by deep gorges. After the visit of Garni we will visit Geghard, a 13th century rock-carved monastery. The name indicates the spear that pierced the side of Christ, a relic that was kept for a long time in this monastery. After the visit to the monastery of Geghard we will have lunch with the participation of the preparation of the traditional Armenian bread “Lavash”. After lunch we will continue towards Lake Sevan, the Pearl of Armenia and also one of the largest high altitude lakes in the world. We will visit the the 9th century sevan monastery from where there is also a beautiful panorama of the lake. Return to Yerevan. Overnight in a hotel in Yerevan.
After breakfast, depending on your choice we will visit either Parajanov museum, a surrealist film director censored and persecuted by the Soviet authorities or Martiros Saryan Museum, a great Armenian painter, master of landscapes, characteristic portraits, still lifes, decorative paintings, book illustrations, decorative-theatrical painting. After the artistic part we will start to discover the technological sciences at the TUMO Center which is a new type of educational experience at the intersection of technology and design. Lunch at a family with the participation in the preparation of the traditional Armenian dessert “Gata” and the traditional Armenian pasta “arishta”. After lunch the journey will continue with a visit to Etchmiadzin: the Armenian Vatican where the first Armenian Christian church was built in 303. After Etchmiatsin we will visit the ruins of the 7th century church of Zvartnots. Overnight in a hotel in Yerevan.
Option: In the evening there is the possibility to attend a concert in one of the Yerevan concert halls.
After breakfast we will departure towards the Ararat region to visit the monastery of Khor Virap, a place particularly dear to Armenians. From the top of its walls you can enjoy one of the most beautiful views of Ararat, the mountain where biblical tradition tells Noah’s Ark stopped after the Great Flood. After Khor Virap we will return to Yerevan and visit to the Museum and Memorial of the victims of the Armenian genocide. Afterwards we will continue the discovery of the Armenian traditional music with a visit to the Komitas museum dedicated to the famous Armenian musicologist and composer Komitas. It is located adjacent to the pantheon in Komitas park. You will have the opportunity to learn traditional Armenian dance taught by professional choreographers: an unforgettable experience. Free afternoon with a visit to the Vernissage, a colorful and lively local craft market. Dinner in a traditional Armenian restaurant with an evening accompanied by songs and dances. Overnight in hotel in Yerevan.
After breakfast transfer to the airport accompanied by the guide or his/her assistant. Check-in and departure.