Yerevan is a City of Surprises

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. Wh...