Unique Architectures

Armenia is a rocky area, and tuff of volcanic origin is one of the most prominent stone kinds in Armenia. It might be orange, reddish, pink, black, or brown in hue. The majority of historical-architectural structures, including as churches and fortifications, are composed of Armenian tuff.

Because the buildings of Yerevan are made of pink tuff, the capital is also known as "Pink City." There are also many old Yerevan buildings built of black tuff, which give the city a distinct feel. The Garni temple, the only pagan temple not only in Armenia but also in the Caucasus, is one of Armenia's unique architectural landmarks. The temple is made up of 24 columns, which represent the 24 hours in a day. The temple is beautifully decorated with Armenian patterns and images such as grape leaves, pomegranates, and lion heads as a symbol of power.

If you are interested in architecture, other top interesting places to visit here include: Noravank Monastery with its exceptional bas-reliefs, Geghard monastery (included in UNESCO heritage list), Zvartnots Cathedral (UNESCO heritage site), Gyumri city with its distinct old architecture, Ejmiatsin Cathedral (UNESCO heritage site), and many more. It is impossible to list them all because Armenia has thousands of attractions.

Khachkars (cross-stones) are yet another distinctive feature of Armenian architecture. Khachkar is a memorial stele with a carved cross surrounded by various floral embellishments or images of Saints or God. Since 2010, Khachkar has been listed on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.