Day 1: Arrival – Transfer from the airport - City Tour
Upon Your arrival our representative will meet You at the airport and accompany to Your hotel. After having a rest You will start a tour through Yerevan. The walking tour starts from the Heart of the city - Republic Square. You will visit History Museum of Armenia which is located on the square. Here You will get acquainted with the rich history of the Armenians. The museum has a national collection of 400,000 objects and was founded in 1920. Then You will continue walking on the Northern Avenue up to the Opera Theater. It is located on Freedom Square. Not far from Freedom square is Saryan s park where you can see pictures of Armenia drawn by Armenian artists. Then You will continue the walk to Matenadaran, a repository of ancient manuscripts, research institute and museum. It holds one of the world s richest depositories of medieval manuscripts and books which span a broad range of subjects, including theology, philosophy, history, medicine, literature, art history, and cosmography in Armenian and many other languages. After it You will walk to Cascade complex and see the giant stairway and modern sculptures. Together You will reach the top of the stairway and admire the mesmerizing panorama of Yerevan.
Day 2: Khor Virap - Areni Cave - Areni Winery - Noravank
Khor Virap is the most famous sanctuary in Armenia. It was the prison of the first Armenian Catholicos Gregory the Illuminator. He was kept there for 13 years. From the Monastery You can admire the view of Biblical Mount Ararat. In Armenia, the Areni Cave complex is also known as "Birds Cave". The caves are the site at which archaeologists have discovered what is likely the worlds oldest winery, and ancient human brain, the remnants of a 5,000-year-old skirt made of straw, and the worlds oldest leather shoe. The Areni winery is a 6100-year-old winery that was discovered in 2007 in the Areni cave. It is the oldest winery in the world. In Areni winery You have the opportunity to taste Armenian wine. Noravank literally "new monastery" is a 13th-century Armenian monastery. The monastery is best known for its two-storey Surb Astvatsatsin church, which grants access to the second floor by way of a narrow stone-made staircase jutting out from the face of building.
Day 3: Musaler - Etchmiadzin (Mother Cathedral, St. Hripsime, St. Gayane churches, Treasury Museum) - Zvartnots Temple
Musaler is an Armenian village known for its eagle-like building called Memorial and museum of Musaler. This place is a symbol of Armenian will to survive as in 1915 when Turkish plan of ethnic cleaning of Armenians was started, Armenians have been announced to leave their homeland, but population of Musaler ignored the deportation edict and chose to resist against Turkish troops. Etchmiadzin Cathedral has always been in the core of the Armenian and foreign architects’ and scientists’ research. According to History of the Armenians by Agathangelos, Armenias patron saint Gregory the Illuminator had a vision of Jesus Christ descending from heaven and striking the earth with a golden hammer to show where the cathedral should be built. Saint Hripsime Church is one of the oldest churches in Armenia. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. St. Hripsime church in Etchmiadzin is considered a masterpiece of early Christian Armenian architecture. The Church of St. Gayane was built in the 7th century. Gayane came to Armenia with 38 nuns including Hripsime .The legend says the church was built over the tomb of Virgin Gayane who was killed for preaching Christianity. The Treasury Museum is home to rare items such as church accessories with historical and artistic value, gold and pearl dresses, crosses and cathedral rocks, numerous ritual items made of gold, silver and ivory decorated with delicate and precious stones. The museum also features unique sacred relics as well as St. Geghard, the spear by which the centurion Longinus pierced Jesus Christ or the Ark of Noah.
Day 4: Transfer to the airport – Departure
