1 The Armenian Museum
Tours with Arek Kahkedjian, a licensed tour guide and Armenian Quarter guide, of a building that was constructed by the Church in the mid-19th century as a hostel for Armenian pilgrims. It also provided housing for the priests and monks, and many years later became a home for orphaned children whose parents were murdered in the Armenian Holocaust. The two-story structure is built around an inner courtyard that faces a vaulted arcade. In 1975, the building was turned into a museum (thanks to donations received from Armenians across the globe). It showcases the culture and history of the Armenian people through works of art, photographs, archaeological findings, and folklore-related artifacts.
The 45-minute tours will focus on the building and its history, including the first printing press in the country that operated on the premises, and recount the story of the Armenian community and the genocide of the Armenian people (during World War I).
