Armenia is a country that can suggest modern accommodation and dining opportunities together with visits to unique museums and medieval monasteries. It’s a real journey through time when you experience rich cultural heritage. If you want to explore cultural heritage, the best option is to book an Armenia art tour that will embrace museums, art galleries, and archaeological sites.
Whether it’s the History Museum of Armenia or the Cafesjian Center for the Arts, you will find some unique pieces of art that will leave you with unforgettable memories. Because of the country’s geographical position at the crossroads of East and West, Armenian art is preserving its unique touch through centuries. The Armenian museums feature collections that span different artistic styles and periods.
Although Armenia faced numerous challenges in the past it managed to preserve some pieces of art dating back to the 8th century. This article will explore captivating museums to include in your art tour.
Matenadaran
Located in the heart of Yerevan, Matenadaran or the Research Institute of Ancient Manuscripts is a depository with a collection of 17,000 manuscripts from different time periods. Matenadaran is a unique museum showcasing Armenia’s cultural heritage.
When touring the museum, visitors may discover ancient texts, beautifully illuminated manuscripts, and rare books such as the smallest and the largest books. This provides an insight into Armenia’s literature, science, and art.
Moreover, it is one of the richest book depositories in the world and is a part of the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.
History Museum
The next step in your journey through Armenian art and culture is the History Museum of Armenia with its more than 4 hundred thousand archaeological and ethnographic pieces.
The collection includes exhibits tracing Armenian history from prehistoric times to the present day. For example, the oldest samples in the coin collection date back to the 5th century BC. The ethnographic collection features Armenian jewelry samples, embroidery, lacework, musical instruments, and national costumes from different parts of historic Armenia.
In general, it’s a testament to the resilience of the Armenian people and their ability to preserve their culture through the most turbulent times in their history.
National Gallery of Armenia
When touring Republic Square you would notice the beautiful building of the National Gallery located right behind the dancing fountains. Founded in 1921, it has the largest Armenian fine art collection in the world. The collection of 7,000 exhibits also includes medieval murals and miniatures.
The Gallery also has a collection of Russian and European paintings and pieces of decorative-applied art. In addition, the National Gallery hosts temporary exhibitions, conferences, and forums that bring together Armenian and international cultural figures.
If you are in Yerevan, visit the gallery in the heart of the capital city to enjoy the works of Hovhannes (Ivan) Aivazovsky, Martiros Saryan, Wassily Kandinsky, and other masters.
Cafesjian Center for the Arts
The Cafesjian Center for the Arts combines an outdoor and indoor collection celebrating art, creativity, and innovation. With its location in the picturesque Cascade Complex, it has artworks by Armenian and modern foreign artists.
The exhibits here are inside the museum and on cascading terraces of the complex. Among the works that you must see are paintings by American painter of Armenian descent Arshile Gorky, Woman Smoking a Cigarette by Colombian painter and sculptor Fernando Botero, a mural by Grigor Khanjyan, and other pieces.
Megerian Carpet Armenia
If you are searching for an unusual museum that combines art pieces and the history of one family, you have definitely to visit the Megerian Carpet. The Megerian is a company founded in 1917 in New York by an Armenian immigrant family and focused on selling, cleaning, and repair of rugs.
Now Megerian has production of rugs in several countries, including Armenia. The collection of the factory represents a real museum of rug weaving. Here you can see and purchase carpets of vibrant colors, different patterns, and high quality. There is also a chance to learn about Armenian rug-weaving culture and watch the rug-weaving process. The cultural complex hosted numerous celebrity guests, including Kim and Khloe Kardashian.
Erebuni Archaeological Museum
If you want to travel in time, visit the Erebuni Archaeological Museum to see the site of the Urartian Fortress Erebuni which has been standing since 782 BC. The site is considered the birthplace of Yerevan. The museum displays some parts of the structure that have been turned into an outdoor exhibition.
In addition to the ancient walls found here, visitors can see the artifacts used in everyday life. Ceramics, jars, bronze bracelets, and other pieces are a testament to the ancient origins of the city.
Most importantly, you can see a stone inscription with the exact date when the fortress was founded. It’s a kind of birth certificate of Yerevan dating back to the time of the Urartian king Argishti I.
Armenia art tour with Levon Travel
Levon Travel is focused on creating custom tours for art and archeology lovers. You can choose our art or archeological tour accompanied by our experienced guides working in the travel industry for more than 30 years. From the ancient monasteries to the contemporary art of modern Armenian artists, every stop on the tour is an exclusive gateway to artistic gems.