Armenia: the basics
Armenia was the first country in the world to
officially adopt Christianity as a state religion in 301
A.D.
There are six UNESCO World Heritage Sites in
Armenia: Haghpat monastery, Sanahin monastery,
Echmiadzin cathedral and churches, Zvartnots
archaeological site, Geghard monastery, and Azat
valley.
Armenia is home to the world’s oldest leather shoe
(5500 years old), sky observatory (7500 years old) and
wine-making facility (6100 years old).
A staple of Armenian cuisine is lavash, thin, slightly
chewy, flat bread eaten with every meal. The dish even
made UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Armenia has more chess grandmasters per capita
than any other country. Today, chess is part of the
curriculum in all public schools.
Yerevan is one of the world’s oldest continuously
inhabited cities. The fortress of Erebuni (Yerevan) was
built in 782 BC, 29 years before building began in
Rome.