The Cascade: Yerevan's Stairway to Art and Views

The Cascade is a towering architectural marvel in Yerevan, Armenia, serving as both a monumental stairway and an open-air art museum. Conceived by architect Alexander Tamanyan in the 1920s, the project aimed to link the northern and central parts of the city with a vast green space. Construction began in the 1980s but was interrupted by the 1988 earthquake and the collapse of the Soviet Union. It wasn't until 2002 that the project was revived, thanks to the Armenian-American businessman and art collector Gerard Cafesjian.The Cascade is more than just a staircase; it's a complex that includes the Cafesjian Museum of Art, terraced gardens, and numerous sculptures. The exterior features 572 steps that visitors can climb, or they can opt for the escalators inside. Each terrace offers unique artwork, fountains, and bas-reliefs, all incorporating national symbols like doves, grapes, and pomegranates.At the base of the Cascade, in the Cafesjian Sculpture Garden, visitors can admire works by renowned artists such as Fernando Botero and Lynn Chadwick. The Cafesjian Center for the Arts, located within the Cascade, showcases a variety of modern art exhibits. The top of the Cascade provides panoramic views of Yerevan and, on clear days, a stunning vista of Mount Ararat. Above the Cascade is the Monument Terrace, featuring a 56-meter tall obelisk built in 1971 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Soviet rule in Armenia.