3. Yerevan city tour


Yerevan

Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia as well as one of the worlds oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country. It has been the capital since 1918. The history of Yerevan dates back to the 8th century BC, with the founding of the fortress of Erebuni in 782 BC by king Argishti I at the western extreme of the Ararat plain. Erebuni was "designed as a great administrative and religious centre, a fully royal capital." By the late ancient Armenian Kingdom, new capital cities were established and Yerevan declined in importance. The city is 29 years older than Rome, is the same age as Babylon and the Assyrian city of Nineveh, but unlike the latter, has become a prosperous city now. The principal symbol of Yerevan is Mount Ararat, which is visible from any area in the capital.

Zoo

Armenia is a hot spot of amazing biodiversity. If you are really fond of nature, interested in wildlife, you should visit the Zoological Garden of Yerevan which was established in 1940. At present, the Zoo is home to about 204 species, 2749 individuals of birds, mammals and reptiles. There are species that represent Armenia and the South Caucasus region, for example, Bezoar goats, Armenian mouflons, brown bears, vipers, black vultures. But there are also species represented at the zoo from all over the world including lions, tigers, hyenas, and Asian elephant.


Play City

Play City was founded in 2002, with aim to provide joyful, secure and diverse entertainment services in Armenia, based on the high quality service, new technologies and unique environment. Play City is the only place in Armenia, where you can find such amount of various services for your pastime and entertainment, gathered in one place. They have Karting, Bowling, Bumper-Car, Mini Golf, Paint Ball, as well as restaurant and cafe-bar, open playground where people can organize their birthday parties and corporate events.


Mother Armenia

Mother Armenia is a female personification of Armenia. Her most public visual rendering is a monumental statue in Victory Park overlooking the capital city. "Mother Armenia" has a height of 22 metres, thus making the overall height of the monument 51 metres, including the pedestal. The statue is built of hammered copper while the pedestal-museum is of basalt.The Mother Armenia statue symbolises peace through strength. It can remind viewers of some of the prominent female figures in Armenian history, such as Sose Mayrig and others, who took up arms to help their husbands in their clashes with Turkish troops and Kurdish irregulars. It also recalls the important status and value attributed to the older female members of an Armenian family.

Its location on a hill overlooking Yerevan makes it look like a guardian of the Armenian capital. Every year on 9 May, thousands of Armenians visit the statue of Mother Armenia and lay flowers to commemorate the Armenian martyrs of the Second World War.

Republic Square

Republic Square is the central town square in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. It consists of two sections: an oval roundabout and a trapezoid-shaped section which contains a pool with musical fountains. The square is surrounded by five major buildings built in pink and yellow tuff in the neoclassical style with extensive use of Armenian motifs. This architectural ensemble includes the Government House, the History Museum and the National Gallery, Armenia Marriott Hotel and the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Transport and Communications. The square was originally designed by Alexander Tamanian in 1924. The construction of most of the buildings was completed by the 1950s; the last building—the National Gallery—was completed in 1977.


Northern Avenue

Northern Avenue is a pedestrian avenue in Yerevan, opened in 2007. It is in the central Kentron district and links Abovyan Street with Freedom Square on Tumanyan street. It is 450 metres (1,480 ft) long and 27 metres (89 ft) wide. Located in downtown Yerevan, the avenue is mainly home to luxurious residential buildings, high-end branded shops, commercial offices, coffee shops, hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs.



Opera Theatre

Armenian National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet named after Alexander Spendiaryan was officially opened on 20 January 1933, with Alexander Spendiaryans Almast opera performance. The opera building was designed by the Armenian architect Alexander Tamanian. It consists of two concert halls: the Aram Khatchaturian concert hall with 1,400 seats and the Alexander Spendiaryan Opera and Ballet National Theatre with 1,200 seats. The opening of the theatre promoted the creation of new national operas and ballets. The first Armenian ballet was Happiness by Aram Khachaturian. On the basis of this ballet the composer soon created Gayane which has been performed all over the world.



Start10:00
Destination3. Yerevan city tour

Zoo, Play City, Mother Armenia (Monument), Shopping time, Republic Square, Northern Avenue, Opera house

Duration8-9 hrs

* The unused portions of the itinerary are not refundable.




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