Alaverdi

Introducing Alaverdi

The quiet, conservative mining town of Alaverdi is tucked into a bend in the canyon, with rows of apartment blocks and village houses cut into strata by the highway and the railway line. The town is rather poor with few jobs besides those at the half-open copper mine. A cable car (AMD50) climbs the lip of the inner canyon from the mine up to Sadahart and the nearby village of Sanahin. It runs according to work shifts at the mine – 7.45am to 9.45am, 11am to 2pm, 3pm to 7.30pm and 11.15pm to 11.45pm. An ATM is located within the copper mine complex, just past the cable car.

Tamara’s bridge, about 1km down from the bus stand, was built by Queen Tamar of Georgia.

This humpbacked stone bridge was used by road traffic until 25 years ago. There are four kitten-faced lions carved on the stone railing. Legend tells that when a ‘real’ man finally walks across, the lions will come to life.

Last updated: Oct 3, 2008