Popular and Hidden Sights of Yerevan

While being one of the oldest capitals in the world, the spirit of Yerevan is very young and modern. Year by year it changes and becomes more beautiful and progressive, but at the same time doesn’t lose its old charm. Any time of the year, in Yerevan you will find many activities to take part in, many concerts and events to attend. There are many popular and hidden sights of Yerevan, that you should visit during your stay here. 

You can start by visiting the popular sights of Yerevan first: 

Freedom Square

Freedom Square, in which you will see the beautiful Opera building and statues of two very important cultural figures for Armenia: poet Hovhannes Tumanyan and composer Alexander Spendiaryan. The square is always active and full of many people. In warm seasons people are always riding bikes, skateboards, roller-skates. In wintertime, the square becomes a magical place with ice and snow statues, Christmas trees and different winter activities. Also, many open-air concerts of different genres are happening in this square. Inside of the Opera building many concerts of classical music and ballet are being held. Many pieces of Armenian composers are being performed there. So if you want, you can attend one of them and learn more about Armenian classical music.

Did you know, that at the place where the building of Opera and Ballet Theater stands now, there used to be a chapel? Gethsemane Chapel was a small Armenian Apostolic church. Chapel was surrounded with the old Yerevan cemetery. It was destroyed during the 1920s and got replaced with the building of Opera and Ballet theatre.

The architect of old Yerevan, Alexander Tamanyan was planning to reconstruct this chapel in other area of Yerevan. But unfortunately it was not possible, due to the loss of the stones of the chapel.

Cascade complex

Is a unique sight of Yerevan, with a massive stairway, starting from the centre of the city and leading to the Victory Park, with the big obelisk of the Revived Armenia and beautiful panoramic view to the city. In Victory Park, you will find the statue of Mother Armenia.

Cascade starts with monument of an Armenian architect Alexander Tamanyan. This place is an open-air museum full of exhibits of modern art. You can climb to the top, while counting all of the stairs of Cascade and exploring art exhibits in each level of the complex. If you don’t want to do it, inside of the Cascade you will find escalators to make your way to the top easier. Besides escalators, inside of the complex there is a Cafesjian Center of Arts, founded by Armenian-American philanthropist Gerard Cafesjian. In each level of escalators you will see platforms with artworks from Cafesjian’s personal collection. Many Jazz concerts are being held in Cascade.

Before the complex was built, on the first floor of current Cascade Complex there was a waterfall fountain with a colorful mosaic painting, by the Soviet Armenian painter Derenik Danielyan. Painting featured colorful fishes jumping above the water.

Northern Avenue is a relatively new part of Yerevan. It is a pedestrian avenue located in the center of Yerevan. Here are located many luxurious residential buildings, cafes, restaurants, hotels, high-end branded shops etc. Also this is the avenue of street artists. Here you will see many musicians, dancers, painters. At the end of the Avenue you will see the symbolic Key of Yerevan.

Republic Square

Republic Square is the main square of the city. Buildings here are made from volcanic pink tuff. That’s why Yerevan is called the “pink city”. The square is surrounded by five main buildings: Government house, the History Museum and the National Gallery, Armenia Marriott Hotel and the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Transport and Communications. In the middle, there is a big fountain, which every evening turns into a musical phenomenon. After dark, starts the singing and dancing fountains show, with music of different genres and eras.

Did you know, that in 2003, when the renovation of Republic Square was happening, an older layer of the city was uncovered? Extensive excavations took place in Republic Square. Archeologists found out, that these basement buildings are from 17th century and they were destroyed at the beginning of 20th century. These archaeological evidence shows that in 17-18 centuries Yerevan was not an average city. It was an important trade and economical centre.

Matenadaran

Matenadaran or Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts. Matenadaran translates as “library of manuscripts”. It is a museum and repository of manuscripts, also a research institute. It is named after Mesrop Mashtots – inventor of the Armenian alphabet. Here you will find a big collection of rare manuscripts not only from Armenia but all around the world. The collection is always growing, thanks to many donations. Another part of Matenadaran is an institute, where specialists research manuscripts and make them digital.

Grand Candy Donut Cafe

After your interesting tour in Matenadaran, you can go and check this cute cafe, that armenians call Ponchikanoc. It is located not very far from the museum. It is very easy to find: bright colored windows and the symbol of the brand – pink elephant, will meet you there. Grand Candy is a huge food company in Armenia, which mostly produces sweet products, such as candies, chocolate, cakes, ice-cream etc. Some of their shops have small donut cafes. Here, you will taste delicious and freshly made armenian-style donuts, with vanilla, chocolate, caramel, jam fillings. Their cocoa is also very tasty and popular. Everything here is very cheap and very delicious, that’s why it’s always busy and full of people of all ages. The atmosphere of the cafe will make you feel, like you’re a kid again. 

By the way, Grand Candy has a big variety of delicious chocolates, and it is a great souvenir to take with you from Yerevan.

Hidden sights of Yerevan 

After you explored popular sights of Yerevan, you can go and find hidden gems of the city. You will be suprised by many interesting and beautiful places that Yerevan hides.

Kond

Kond district is the “old town” of Yerevan. But it differs from the old towns that we are used to seeing in European cities. It is one of the oldest quarters in Yerevan, and remains as it was centuries ago. There are still some families, who live in this district.

In Kond, you will find some mosques, that don’t operate anymore. Thapha Bashi mosque is the largest of them all, and still stands there. All of these mosques have been here since the time when Yerevan was occupied by Persian Empire.

While walking in narrow streets of Kond, you will find yourself in a completely different world and time. It is a unique district, one of the very few, that reminds us of Old Yerevan.

Zoravor Surp Astvatsatsin Church

This church is one of the oldest constructions in Yerevan, which was built in 17th century. Originally the name of the church was Surp Astvatsatsin. Later, the name Zoravor (Powerful) was added, because until the end of 19th century the church was a home to a bible of Zoravor. It was known to have a healing power. The church has many beautiful ornamental carvings and khachkars (cross-stones). It is located in Kentron district, but hidden in a courtyard north of Pushkin and Ghazar Parpetsi Streets. Many medieval churches were destroyed during Soviet time, which makes this surviving church worth seeing.

ICA Yerevan

ICA stands for Institute of Contemporary Art. It is a unique center in Yerevan, that works on development of contemporary art and art economy in Armenia, organizes many events, exhibitions, discussions, workshops. The design of the building of ICA Yerevan is very unique, bright and artistic. Here you also can find a beautiful garden, where many events are being held during warm seasons. It is located in 48 Fizkulturnikneri street, but the entrance is from Aygestan 5th street.

The Moscow Cinema open-air Summer Hall

If you go behind the Moscow Cinema theater, you will find an open-air Summer Hall. This hall was constructed between 1964 and 1966 by architects Spartak Kndeghtsyan and Telman Gevorgyan. This open-air cinema is a great example of Soviet Armenian constructivist architecture style. Back in the day, it was one of the most active locations in the centre of Yerevan. Today, it mostly works in summertime. To give the hall a new life, many musicians started to organize concerts here. During the Golden Apricot International Film Festival, many film screenings are happening in the open-air Summer Hall.

NCA.Small Theater

This unique theater was founded about 20 years ago by Vahan Badalyan. At first it was a drama-studio. The aim of this theater is to produce independent creative work, to be a platform for young people, who are interested in theatrical arts, and provide them with different educational programs. Through their unique performances, artists of the Small Theater celebrate the power of imagination and the big influence that theater has on life. The theater is very active and you can attend their performances by the address: 11 Abovyan Street.

After exploring all of the popular and hidden sights of Yerevan, you can continue your trip to other Armenian destinations. Yerevan is an interesting city, full of history. While exploring the capital of Armenia you will find out many interesting facts, feel the positive energy and see the beautiful contrast between different streets, buildings and people.

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