TOURS

Sayat-Nova Avenue was officially inaugurated on October 27, 1963. This avenue bears the name of the 18th century poet, musician and ashugh (Armenian bard) Harutyun Sayadyan, known more commonly by his Sayat-Nova. The origin of the pseudonym is ambiguous, but many think it means, "king of songs".

Sayat-Nova was court bard in the days of the Georgian king Irakly. He wrote songs in four languages: Armenian, Georgian, Persian and Turkish. According to a legend the poet was exiled because he was in love with the king’s daughter. Little is known about Sayat-Nova’s life, and the only real source of information is his songs. His songs are still sung, and are considered treasures of Armenia musical culture. 

Sayat-Nova Avenue is only 1.5 km long. It starts as a continuation of Marshal Baghramyan Avenue - from the park named after Komitas, where the monument to Sayat-Nova (1963, sculptor Ara Autyunyan) is located, made of white marble. The architectural part of the monument is a wall of rectangular blocks, and the head of the poet protrudes on the left side of the composition. Below, a stream of water flows out of the wall along a thin groove - this is a symbol of the spring and the unfading poetry of Sayat-Nova.

It is a coincidence that the Yerevan State Conservatory after Komitas is situated just behind this park. In the morning and afternoon, passing by the Conservatory, you will hear an interesting mixture of classical music - melodies of keyboards and strings together with vocal exercises combine to create a unique harmony. There is a statue of Komitas (1988, sculptor Ara Harutyunyan) in the center of the park in front of the Conservatory. Komitas is another Armenian famous composer and musicologist who collected and recorded Armenian music, thus preserving it. So everything in this area, down to minor decor details, contains music references.

Yerevan boasts many impressive monuments. At the corner of Sayat-Nova Avenue and Teryan Street, there is a modest and beautiful statue of Arev Baghdasaryan, famous in Soviet times, who performed international songs and dances.

When you pass this intersection, one could see Yerevan State Puppet Theatre (June, 1935). The theatre building may catch your eye from a distance. It can easily be recognized by its playbills and the bell at its entrance, which children ages 3 to 100 love to ring. In the building there is a musical fairy tale house featuring characters from popular tales who sometimes come out to dance. The Puppet Theatre has more to it than meets the eye. Very often, adult plays and rock concerts take place there. So nobody is surprised when they see rockers in leather jackets exiting the theatre minutes after a crowd of children in party hats.

Opposite the Puppet Theater - at the intersection of Sayat-Nova Avenue with the street. Abovyan, there is a chapel. This is all that remains of the 13th century Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Katoghike), which was once part of the monastery complex. Katoghike was built on the site of a church that had partially survived the 1679 earthquake. According to the inscription on the western façade, the church was built in 1693.

Since the church was dilapidated, it was demolished in 1934 in connection with urban planning work under the leadership of the archaeologist G. Gafadaryan, and the Institute of Languages was built in its place. But it was during the demolition that the small chapel of Surb Astvatsatsin, built in the 13th century, was discovered. The chapel was so beautiful that it was decided to restore its ruined parts. After the restoration of the walls, roof and dome, the church again turned into a functioning one. The building of the Institute of Language. Hrachya Acharyan was subsequently demolished for the construction of the residence of the Catholicos in Yerevan.

On July 4, 2009, Catholicos Garegin II held a service to consecrate the land for the construction of a new church - the Church of St. Anna, and the complex adjacent to it. Construction, however, only began in 2011 and was completed in 2014. On April 30, 2015, the church was consecrated by the Catholicos. According to the project of the architect Vahagn Movsisyan, the church is a single-domed cruciform with a bell tower at the entrance. The residence of the Catholicos is located to the west of the church.

The 14-story building of the Ani Plaza Hotel rises at the next crossroads. Built-in 1964 and opened in 1970 as the "Intourist" hotel,  ''Ani Plaza'' has a rich history and a reputation for being one of the best hotels in the country. 

There are a wide variety of cafes and restaurants on Sayat-Nova Avenue. This part of the avenue is also lined with several boutiques, accessory and electronic stores, offices of several Armenian banks with exchange offices.

If you go straight, the Circular Boulevard crosses Sayat-Nova Avenue. Here, in a small narrow green area, you will see a monument to Yeghishe Charents, one of the most prominent poets of Armenia in the 20th century. 

The avenue ends with the intersection with Yeghishe Charents street in the southeast and the roundabout - this is the square of the Republic of Argentina. In 2019 the bust of the Argentine politician, General Manuel Belgrano was installed in the square to stress the centuries-old friendship between the Armenian and Argentine peoples.