Cascade
Yerevan Cascade is a beloved spot for residents and visitors alike.
572 steps lead us from the base to the upper platform with a 15-degree incline.
This complex connects the central and northern parts of the capital.
Travertine stone, white, porous, and silky to the touch, was used in the construction of this architectural ensemble.
Five terraces form an open-air museum.
Fountains and pools, sculptures and flowerbeds adorn the terraces of the Cascade.
At the very top tier, figures of divers are frozen in mid-dive, as if ready to plunge into eternity.
Within the complex, you’ll find an escalator gallery and exhibition halls hosting the Art Center of the Gafesjian Philanthropic Foundation. Among the exhibits, a striking highlight is a giant mosaic orchid, a stunning sight to behold.
The complex is adorned with statues by contemporary artists.
As darkness falls, they come to life, periodically changing their colors, depicting two meditating figures.
A beautiful view of the city unfolds from the height of the Cascade. Mount Ararat stands as a symbol of Armenians, depicted on Armenia’s coat of arms, and revered as a sacred mountain.
At the base of the Cascade, you’ll find extraordinary art installations by renowned sculptors from around the world.
Among them is ‘The Smoking Woman’ by Botero, known for his figurative style.
A monument to Alexander Tamanian stands in front of the complex. The architect leans on three massive stones, with the central one symbolizing the bridge between the old and new architecture of Yerevan.
A delightful visual illusion: what appears to be a convex surface is, in reality, the porous and nostril-like structure of the stone.
Travertine is a form of limestone tuff, and the largest structure made from it is the Colosseum in Rome.
