Officially known as the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, Matenadaran is the world’s largest collection of Armenian manuscripts, although we do suppose that Yerevan is the best place for such a museum. The building itself is just about as grand as it gets, a gorgeous piece of work that demands attention before you even walk through the doors. Waiting inside are nearly 2000 sublime pieces of work, a mere fraction of the number that once impressed visitors. A statue of Mashtots is found outside the building, diligently teaching his alphabet to Koryun, the very first Armenian-language author.