Yerevan

Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, older than Rome, yet today a warm, vibrant and eminently walkable city. Rebuilt in the twentieth century largely from local rose-coloured volcanic tuff stone, which gives it the nickname the Pink City, it is a place of grand squares, leafy avenues, a lively cafe culture and buzzing nightlife, all set on a plateau with the majestic, snow-capped biblical Mount Ararat, symbol of the nation, rising across the border.

History

People have lived at Shengavit, in the south of today's city, since at least 3200 BC, in the Kura-Araxes culture of the Early Bronze Age, and in 782 BC King Argishti I of Urartu founded the fortress of Erebuni here, as a cuneiform inscription records, the most likely source of the name Yerevan. Under Urartu canals and reservoirs were built around Erebuni, and in the middle of the 7th century BC Rusa II built Teishebaini on the hill now called Karmir Blur, about 7 kilometres to the west; Yerevan became the capital in 1918, the fourteenth in Armenia's history (Wikipedia, Yerevan).

The main sights

• The Cascade - the giant sculptured stairway and art centre.
• Republic Square - the grand central square and its fountains.
• The views of Ararat - the majestic biblical peak across the border.
• The cafe culture and the Genocide Memorial - the busy centre, and the memorial complex with its museum.

When to go

Spring and autumn for the mildest weather; summer is hot and the city empties to cooler retreats, while autumn brings the harvest and pleasant days. Mount Ararat is clearest in the morning, often veiled in haze later in the day.

Good to know

It is a warm, sociable, easygoing city whose appeal is the atmosphere, cafe culture and hospitality rather than a wealth of monuments; the greatest sights, the ancient monasteries, lie in the countryside beyond. The Armenian Genocide Memorial and its museum stand on Tsitsernakaberd hill. It is a comfortable, welcoming base for exploring the country's spectacular churches and landscapes.

Nearby

The temple of Garni, the monasteries and the whole country are within reach.

Key facts