The small village of Ardvi, with a population of 150 people, is incredibly rich in its historical and natural attractions. An unusual natural monument, known as a “Snake Navel”, reminiscent of a snake body, stretched all along the cliff, from the navel of which flows, what is believed to be, the healing water, is located here. There are a number of unique khachkars, medieval graveyards and tombs, as well as several churches to be seen in Ardvi. Among the churches, the most popular is St. Hovhannes Monastery (Srbanes, built in the 8th century), named after a canonized Armenian Catholicos Hovhannes III Odznetsi, whose tomb is located here, too. Besides its remarkable architecture, the monastery is also an interesting place to visit as several scenes of Sergei Parajanov’s cult film, “The Color of Pomegranates”, were shot here.
