Gyumri is one of Armenia's most distinctive cities and its second largest urban center. Known previously as Kumayri, Alexandrapol, and Leninakan, Gyumri's settlement dates to at least the fourth century BCE. It has served variously as military outpost, transportation hub, and trading post. Despite a catastrophic earthquake in 1988 and the social and economic hardships that followed, Gyumri has maintained a strong cultural identity and charm – including a well-preserved old town. Strolling through the narrow streets of Gyumri's historic district, visitors will find buildings and works of art that are both traditional and new, which signal the city's rebirth. The city tours are led by experts from Gyumri's City Research Center, a non-governmental organization founded in 2002 to help preserve the city's vibrant cultural and historic traditions.
Meet your host
Ashot Mirozyan, the founder of Gyumri City Research Center, is an architect by training and highly enthusiastic about Gyumri’s architecture. For the past 15 years or so, he has been engaged in many projects aimed at collecting information about Gyumri's cultural history, including its architectural styles.
