Cascade

A vast flight of stone steps and flower beds, the Cascade leads up to a monument commemorating the 50th anniversary of Soviet Armenia. It completes one end of Tumanyan's north-south axis through the city, in line with Tigran Mets Poghota and the Hyusisayin Poghota (Northern Avenue) project. There are five recessed fountains along the Cascade, some with sculpted panels and postmodern khatchkars.

The top section of the Cascade was left unfinished when independence arrived, until 2001 when diasporan philanthropist and art collector Gerald L Cafesjian took over the project. Since then the vast concrete structure has been cleaned, the escalators through its core repaired and hundreds of flower beds planted. Take the escalators up through the belly of the building, which looks like a skyscraper resting on its side, and walk onto the 'roof' to take in the panorama surrounded by flowers. At the top is a rather bleak plaza with the 50th Anniversary of Soviet Armenia Monument at its centre (though the views are great). The new Cafesjian Museum is being integrated into the Cascade to house a vast collection of art and glassware. Cafesjian spent tens of millions to complete the structure and add galleries - including a new arts centre at the top of the Cascade. Fernando Botero's cheerfully fat sculpture Cat stands at the base of the Cascade. Botero's Roman Warrior has a 'rigid' pose at the top.