Armenia is a relatively small country that is gaining a lot of touristic momentum in recent years. Even though the tourism industry is flourishing, nevertheless, Armenia still has a lot to offer visitors, much more than meets the eye.
Museums, Monuments and Rich History
Armenia boasts a lot of cultural masterpieces especially within the capital of Yerevan. The city alone hosts forty museums and more than four thousand monuments.
The vibrant atmosphere of Yerevan, coupled with the tranquility of the streets make it a perfect holiday spot. Whether you are a nature’s person or a city dweller, Yerevan will surely have many offers to make.
As declared by many historians, Armenia was the first state in the world to adopt Christianity. This religion became the de facto official religion of the country between the third and fourth century A.D.
The country’s strategic location made it vulnerable to raids from ancient kingdoms and empires. As with anything in life, this may have had some negative consequences like shrinking the size of Armenia’s territory. On the other hand, due to the enormous interest in the land of Armenia, many cultures exchanged hands on this legendary territory. Namely the Byzantines, Sasanians, Seljuk Turks, Ottomans, Iranians and Russians. Some historians also attribute a period of Arabic rule over the land, as well as multiple Mongolian invasions.
At its height, the Armenian kingdom stretched over a piece of land that spread among the three seas of Mediterranean, Caspian and the Black Sea.
Today, all of these historical events are reflected in the enormously opulent culture of Armenia. It can be felt in its rich cuisine offerings, as well as in the warm hospitality of locals and their unique language and alphabets.
You can hear the echos of the magnificent past in every temple you visit and every street you take.
Treat Yourself to one of the Best Cuisines in the World
The fresh locally produced crops are a signature of the Armenian cuisine. Foods are cooked with a lot of passion and dedication, and you can feel it with every bite.
As the Armenian diaspora is present in all corners of the globe, this brings a lot of diversity into the country. In recent years the nation started witnessing a lot of relocations of Armenians born abroad. Those individuals bring back an ample of fresh and innovative ideas. This in return helps in diversifying the economy and further enriching the culture.
Many new restaurants are opening especially in the capital of Yerevan. These dining places and cafes have Armenian roots with Western twists. On the other hand, many Armenians resided for years in the Arab world, especially during conflicts in the early 1900s. Today, many came back holding oriental flavours under their finger tips.
Consequently, many Arab tourists nowadays flock to Armenia. This is especially true during the summer season. As a result, they get to explore the glorious history, charming nature and sample the tasty cuisine. In some areas the food might resemble what their taste buds are used to.
At the same time, American tourists visit Armenia due to the influence of their fellow American friends of Armenian origins. Many Armenian restaurants are present in the USA. However, American tourists state that the authenticity of food in its homeland of Armenia has a different dimension. Upon their return, they start advising their family and friends to visit Armenia to try it for themselves.
Wines are a Mode of Life rather than a Mere Source of Living
Wines are produced in significant volumes in Armenia. As the country lies strategically at the fertile lands of Mount Ararat. Consequently, the valleys are blessed with a high quality of grapes. All of these upon processing skillfully, yield one of the best wines in the world.
In addition, wines are mixed with a lot of fruits which makes them more of a treat after a hearty meal. In Armenia you can find pomegranate wine as well as the country’s favorite fruit, the apricot wine. Some claim that Apricots are the true symbol of Armenia. Moreover, the orange-yellowish color in the stripes of the flag is attributed to this fruit as well. No matter what the exact story behind apricot is, everyone will surely agree that it is one of the best fruity wines to taste in the world.
Armenia might not be the top country in guide books, but after all isn’t that what we are looking for. The traditionally touristic countries are nowadays experiencing a lot of harm caused by mass tourism. Therefore, countries like Armenia are truly a hidden gem in the world of travel, hospitality and ecotourism. As a matter of fact, this might change during our lifetime.
In other words, who knows when the next of Game of Thrones series would be shot, and why not Armenia be the new location!
