Yerevan

Yerevan is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, dating from the fortress of Erebuni founded in 782 BC. It is called the pink city because so many of its buildings are made of rosy volcanic tuff, which glows at sunset.

At its heart is Republic Square, with government buildings, the History Museum and fountains that dance on summer evenings. To the north is the Cascade, a vast stone stairway of gardens and sculpture, whose top looks over the city to the snowy twin peaks of Mount Ararat on clear days. The city also has the Matenadaran manuscript museum and the open-air Vernissage market for crafts and carpets.

Muslim travellers have the eighteenth-century Blue Mosque, where Friday prayers are held, with Iranian restaurants nearby. Yerevan is an ideal base for day trips to Garni, Geghard, Sevan and Khor Virap.