Not far from Yerevan, near Vokhchaberd village there is this usual at first glance arch. But when you
climb the stairs and stand under it, this breathtaking view of Ararat opens to your eyes. It is Arch of
Charents by famous architect Rafael Israelian. The arch is dedicated to famous Armenian poet
Yeghishe Charents, who liked to walk near these places and admire the incredible view of Mount
Ararat. This place is one of the favorite stops for practically all kinds of tourists, - one cannot just
resist the temptation not to take few photos against the backdrop of the mountain. One of the most
unusual places in Armenia, the village of Garni that bears the same name as the ancient pagan temple,
is situated on 37 km from the center of Yerevan. Before the adoption of Christianity, the architecture
in Armenia was interrelated with the Hellenistic style. This is evidenced by Garni, executed in this elegant manner with a characteristic colonnade on all sides and located on the top of a hill divided
from the mountain range by a deep gorge. The temple was restored in 1976 and welcomes a multitude
of tourists daily to this day. Since 2011, it has been awarded the UNESCO heritage award. The picturesque
mountains, steep gorge and endless echo to be heard again and again, fascinate and ask to return. Once
approaching Geghard, the tops of the crosses and the church itself will not be the first thing to notice, as
that place will belong to music. The musicians are right the ascent to the church, always playing, welcoming
guests with joy and loud national music. The air is filled with the aroma of national delicacies, such as dried
fruit, sweet sujukh and honey, yet once you climb up the hill, you will be shocked by what you see. You will
appear in front of the gates, leading to the temple of Geghard, completely carved out of the mountain. This
masterpiece of Armenian medieval architecture amazes with its detail and antiquity. Geghard is a complex
consisting of the main chapel, two cave halls,
and tombs. There is a cold spring in the first
cave hall, which to this day captures the
attention of the visitors. It is believed that its
holy water heals diseases, rejuvenates and
gifts beauty. Literally translated, Geghard
means “holy spear” in memory of the spear
kept in it, which had wounded Jesus Christ at
the Crucifixion. It is also included in the
UNESCO list of heritage since 2000. The
nearby flowing Azat River hypnotizes with its murmur, pigeons hover over the church, and the coolness from the gorge gives strength to continue the
path to new discoveries and impressions. Try baking real Armenian lavash. In Tondir, rolling the dough on a
special device for the form of lavash, smelling the fresh bakery in the air. We are sure that such a flat cake
will be enjoyed by everyone, and the lavash baked with your own hands will remain a vivid memory for a
long time, the smell of which warms the nostrils and gives cozy warmth in memory of Armenia.