A list of things to do in Yerevan is lengthy. As the capital city of Armenia, Yerevan is also its cultural center. Yerevan dates back to 725 B.C. and has been controlled by various interests during the centuries since. The city's sites are an amalgamation of history and of historical cultures: Armenian, Russian, Persian, Greek, Iranian, and Turkish. Yet the city itself has a relaxed, vacation feel about it.

Erebuni Fortress and Museum

The Erebuni Fortress became an archaeological site in the late 1950's. The dig determined the origination date of the fortress as 782 B.C.  Although some of the fortress has been recreated, things like the large area for grain storage give a sense of the life and priorities of the era. Perched on the top of a hill, exploring the fortress also provides great views of the city. The Erebuni Museum, found at the bottom of the hill, displays artifacts such as cuneiform tablets and jewelry which were uncovered during the archaeological dig.

Hanrapetutyan Hraparak

Formerly the Lenin Square, the current-day square juxtaposes modern-day Armenian city commerce with Soviet-era buildings. The square, with its fountains and lights, is appealing on a summer night. It is also an area where local artisans sell hand-made crafts and jewelry.

National Art Gallery

Located near the square, the National Art Gallery contains what is considered to be the third-largest Soviet collection of European art. The works include those by Donatello, Rubens, and Rodin.

Museum of the Armenian Genocide

The Museum of the Armenian Genocide memorializes the millions of Armenians who died during the forced deportations and mass murders in 1915 to 1922. The museum displays what few photographs remain of the genocide and includes the denials by the country of Turkey. Although a several-minute taxi ride from the city center, the museum is one you will not want to miss.

Opera House

The Yerevan Opera House is centrally located and surrounded by an open-air area of night clubs, bars, and cafes. The Opera House consists of a concert hall and the national opera and ballet theater. Performance dates are posted throughout the capital.

Blue Mosque

The only remaining mosque in Yerevan, the Blue Mosque, was once 1 of 8 mosques in the city. It was built in 1765 and restored in the late 1990's by an Iranian foundation.

Matenadaran

The first matenadaran, or manuscript library, was built in Armenia in the fifth century.  Many of the manuscripts were burned during World War I and the Armenian Genocide. The current matenadaran was built in 1959 and contains over 100,000 medieval and Armenian texts.

Contributor:  Susan Green