Yerevan

The pink-stone city, with the Cascade and the Matenadaran manuscript museum, plus day trips to Garni Temple, Geghard, Khor Virap, Noravank and Lake Sevan.

Yerevan is the capital of Armenia, on the northeastern edge of the Ararat Plain in the South Caucasus, on the Hrazdan River at an elevation of about 1,000 m. Its founding can be traced to the Erebuni Fortress in 782 BC, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The city center is built largely of pink and orange volcanic tuff and is known as the "Pink City"; on clear days you can see Mount Ararat, which lies in Turkey. In AD 301 Armenia became the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as its state religion, and monasteries are found all around. The climate is continental highland: April–June and September–October are the most pleasant; July–August is hot and dry; winter is cold and snowy. Sightseeing: 1–2 days in the city (Republic Square, the Cascade, the Matenadaran, the brandy factory, the Vernissage market); the west route to Echmiadzin and Zvartnots; the east route to Garni Temple, the Symphony of Stones and Geghard; the south route to Khor Virap, Areni and Noravank; the north route to Lake Sevan and Dilijan; and the northwest route to Mount Aragats, Amberd and the gorge monasteries. Tatev is covered under Tatev & Goris. Getting there: Zvartnots Airport is about 12 km from the city; outside the city you can hire a car, rent one, or join a local day tour. Allow 4–6 days. China and Armenia have a mutual visa exemption for ordinary passports, but check the latest entry rules; dress modestly when visiting churches.

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