One-Day Tour Across Culture and History of Armenia

armeniangeographic

6 years ago

Our one-day tour across culture and history of Armenia will give you opportunity to discover Armenian culture by communicating with its history.

Zvartnots Cathedral

Early in the morning we will start our tour to Etchmiadzin. Our first stop will be in Zvartnots Cathedral. The cathedral is dated back to the 7th century.

Culrural tour to Zvartnots temple

You can’t see the cathedral standing there but only the ruins of it. In 2000, Zvartnots, along with the churches of St. Hripsime, St. Gayane, St. Shoghakat and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, was included in UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Etchmiadzin

Then we will visit the spiritual center of Armenia where we will see one of the oldest churches built in the IV century – Holy Etchmiadzin. According to the legend, Gregory the Illuminator, who was preaching Christianity in Armenia, had a dream of Jesus Christ coming down from heaven with a hammer in his hand and striking a pagan temple.

Etchmiadzin Cathedral / Photographer Hovik Charkhchyan

Gregory the Illuminator told his dream to king Tiridates, and he ordered to replace the temple with a church and called it Etchmiadzin (And begotten came down). For more than 17 centuries, the Holy Etchmiadzin has been and still is the center of Armenian religion, culture, sciences, theology and spirituality.

After seeing the cathedral we will visit Machanents House,there we will have an excursion and a pottery master class. During the master class you will learn about the history of pottery and will work with clay.

Dashtadem Fortress

Afterwards we will continue our tour to Dashtadem Fortress. Dashtadem Fortress used to be an important fortification, which protected the eastern roads that approached the city of Ani.

Dshtadem Fortress

It was founded in the 10th century during the Bagratuni dynasty. Next we will go to Talin to see the Saint Kathogike cathedral.

Talin Cathedral

Being one of the oldest centers of civilization the area of Talin is rich with historical monuments. The 7th-century cathedral built by the Kamsarakan princes is a typical example of Armenian church architecture of the early Christian period of the Armenian nation.

Talin Cathedral

The city is an important crossroad in Armenia between north and south. The earthquake of 1840 caused great damage to the cathedral, which is why the dome of the building is missing, but the church is still of great interest among lovers of ancient architecture.

Aruch Caravanserai

Our next stop will be at Aruch caravanserai. The Aruch caravanserai dates back to the 13th century. The medieval roadside inn was located on the road connecting the Bagratuni capital Ani to Dvin, which was part of Armenia’s Silk road.

Aruch Caravanserai

Caravanserais had an important role in the development of international trade. After exploring the old caravanserai we will visit another historical site: Agarak settlement, which is located 25 kilometers from Yerevan not far from the city of Ashtarak. Since 2001 many archeological excavations have been held in Agarak. The excavations held on the layers showed that in the first quarter of the third millennium BC this area was a huge stone-carved complex made for worship purposes.

Aruch Cathedral

The number of rock-carved presses discovered in the settlement show that viticulture and wine-making were developed in Agarak. Today it is an interesting archeological site where you can see the remnants of the past that have come a long way and luckily retained.

In the evening we will return to Yerevan.