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Have you heard that Yerevan – Erebuni is older than Rome?

That’s not just a rumor — it’s a fact. Yerevan was founded in 782 BC by Urartian King Argishti I, which is 29 years earlier than the traditional founding date of Rome in 753 BC.

Zvartnots Cathedral is situated in Vagharshapat, in the Armavir Region, about a 30-minute drive from Yerevan.
The name Zvartnots (from the word Zvart) means “happy place”; locals say it once meant the House of Happy Angels.

The church was built in 630 AD and stands above the grave of Saint Gayane, one of the 40 Christian martyrs who played a major role in the history of Armenian religion.

Saint Hripsime Church is situated right at the entrance of Vagharshapat city, about a 30-minute drive from Yerevan. The church was built in 618 AD, above the grave of Saint Hripsime.

Echmiadzin means “the Descent of the Only Begotten,” referring to Jesus, who, according to the vision of the first Armenian Catholicos, Gregory the Illuminator, showed the place where the first Christian church should be built in Armenia.

This natural miracle can be seen in other parts of the world too, but the Armenian Symphony of Stones — also called the Basalt Pipes — near the Garni Pagan Temple is famous for its tall and perfectly carved canyon walls. They look like stone waterfalls.

The Arch of Charents is located a 20-minute drive north from the center of Yerevan. Its location could not be more ideal, as it offers a breathtaking view of the biblical Mount Ararat.

Geghard is a medieval, cave-carved monastery located about an hour’s drive from Yerevan. It is situated in the Kotayk region, surrounded by rocky mountains and the Goght River. According to legend, the first Catholicos of Armenia, Gregory the Illuminator, established a chapel here at the beginning of the 4th century, as a sacred spring was flowing directly from the rocks.

The Garni Temple is located about 28 km from Yerevan, with a drive of around 40 minutes. Nearby, you can also find the Symphony of Stones and the UNESCO-listed Geghard Monastery.

Odzun Monastery is situated in Lori Province, in the north of Armenia, about a 3-hour drive from Yerevan. The construction of the church began in the 6th century and was later reconstructed by Hovhannes III Odzunetsi, who was the Armenian Catholicos between 717 and 728.