Local Guides World
Steve P
7 reviews on 1 places
What I like is that there is a nice park leading up to the hundreds of stairs with multiple Fernando Botero's statues, permanently on display as well as many other interesting full sized art. There is shade, a nice view towards the top and many seating areas along both sides to sit, relax and take on the view. Both sides of the park are lined with restaurants and cafes with outdoor seating. This park comes alive in the evening with locals and tourists strolling about and many climbing the stairs to the top.
THere are three levels, I think to the top. The pleasant color of locally quarried stone line the stairs, alcoves and buildings along the way. The stairs are comfortable in their width and height for anyone to comfortably make their way up. There are plenty of options to sit along the way, mostly the medium walls bordering the vegetation. Each level provides an option to rest and take in the view below. As you get to the immediate top...the is unfinished construction which seems to have stopped a while ago. Deeply excavated ground with some laid foundation and rusted rebar columns left bent out of shape. I hope they haven't given up on this. THere is a way to go past this fenced of area along a maintained path and a short walk through a neighborhood uphill. A further climb up the stairs reveal a square with the monument on one side and a spectacular view of the city and mount Ararat on the other. The square is dirty, appears not maintained . There are benches for sitting there as well. If you have enough energy I would recommend walking a bit further up the street and going under an underpass to the other side of the street and taking a short walk toward the tomb of the unknown soldier with a large statue, an eternal flame and again beautiful views of downtown.
THere are three levels, I think to the top. The pleasant color of locally quarried stone line the stairs, alcoves and buildings along the way. The stairs are comfortable in their width and height for anyone to comfortably make their way up. There are plenty of options to sit along the way, mostly the medium walls bordering the vegetation. Each level provides an option to rest and take in the view below. As you get to the immediate top...the is unfinished construction which seems to have stopped a while ago. Deeply excavated ground with some laid foundation and rusted rebar columns left bent out of shape. I hope they haven't given up on this. THere is a way to go past this fenced of area along a maintained path and a short walk through a neighborhood uphill. A further climb up the stairs reveal a square with the monument on one side and a spectacular view of the city and mount Ararat on the other. The square is dirty, appears not maintained . There are benches for sitting there as well. If you have enough energy I would recommend walking a bit further up the street and going under an underpass to the other side of the street and taking a short walk toward the tomb of the unknown soldier with a large statue, an eternal flame and again beautiful views of downtown.
10 AZN entry for foreigners, cash no cc accepted. An extra 2 AZN for a separate short Chinese exhibit. Three floors of art, the bottom floor mostly European artists, Italian and Dutch. Upper floor statues and paintings from local artists mostly from the middle of last century. A number of carpets, various artifacts throughout. I spent a good hour and some there. The building is nice, oddly there didn't seem to be anywhere to sit and ponder some the artwork. The beautiful garden with a fountain adjacent to this building is an excellent place to relax after.
Initially I thought that pretty sure I will not be the only disappointed person buying a 15€ ticket to the Reaching for the stars special exhibit. Consisting of seemingly only a handful of artistic video exhibits and the final room of framed headlines from newspapers around the world for the 9/11 tragedy.
Turns out, I mistakingly fast forwarded to the opposite side of the main entrance, and went downstairs to see the final portion of the exhibit. The main exhibit is immediately to the right, and up the stairs of exiting the ticket office. This changed my perspective completely. Well layed out, thought provoking, interesting. Still wish this was a larger exhibit though.
Turns out, I mistakingly fast forwarded to the opposite side of the main entrance, and went downstairs to see the final portion of the exhibit. The main exhibit is immediately to the right, and up the stairs of exiting the ticket office. This changed my perspective completely. Well layed out, thought provoking, interesting. Still wish this was a larger exhibit though.
It's a cleaner cafeteria than a similar one just down the street ( restaurant JC) more efficient cashier system and the food looks good. However I think it has less choices and the selections are not hot, just warm... in my visiting on two different days. Also they don't offer you a roll like the other place down the block does. Similar pricing.
For the majority of my last two months in Rome I've ventured out here on either Saturday or a Sunday for their summer concerts. Starting around 1 pm on weekends, the stage ws occupied by a variety of singers and bands from Jazz, to 30's music, to Italian songs and good old Rock n roll. Plenty of seating with shade, a bar where you could order a pizza or a hamburger and a drink for 15 Euros and listen to an hour and a half of live music from some time in June all the way to mid September. They had bands at night on weekends as well but I couldn't make it to any of those. There is a park like grounds with benches and shade as well. The entrance is free. Check out the Saint Stefano rotundo church across the street on your wya out.