Yerevan

Yerevan is the capital of Armenia. It is a very old city, but it has been scarred quite a bit by history. You will still find it the best place to start exploring Armenia, and there are many museums and parks in town. With Yerevan as your base you can easily visit Echmiadzin, the Holy See of the Armenian Church, the Hellenistic temple of Garni and Geghard monastery on daytrips.

Compared with the rest of the country, cultural life is great here. There is a wide choice of restaurants, hotels and bars and there are still quite a few good orchestras playing in Yerevan. People look very modern and while sipping an espresso in some of the hipper bars, you could think you were in San Francisco.

Many visitors will be surprised to know that Armenia is not just an outcrop of Christianity in the Caucasus, but it is the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as a state religion. The king declared Christianity the state religion in 301 AD. One can find thousands of churches and monasteries in Armenia. Armenians are Apostolic Christians and have their own Catholicos (religious leader, like the Pope for Catholics). Armenia has paid a heavy price though for its Christianity in this rough neighborhood. Invasions by Zoroastrians, Muslims, and even Greek Orthodox armies were undertaken to convert Armenia to their faiths. Today, the vast majority of Armenians do not attend church each Sunday, with visits revolving around weddings and baptisms, or occasionally dropping in to light a candle.

With a continental climate, Yerevan experiences long hot summers, and cold winters, both with little or no humidity. The winter is not a good time to visit Yerevan, due to icy sidewalks and smoky restaurants, any other time of year is worth a visit. Spring offers mild but sometimes wet weather, and lots of green hills and wildflowers. Summer is very hot, but the long, late nights at the cafes, and the fruits and vegetables are amazing. Fall is the most popular, with perfect weather, and great farm fresh foods.