# My Virtual Armenia

> Virtual exploration of Armenian historical and cultural heritage sites. (iPhone/iPad app by Smithsonian Institution.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-virtual-armenia/id1397541590 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Smithsonian Institution](https://appshunter.io/developer/370564865)
- Category: Education, Travel
- Price: Free
- Rating: 3.90/5 from 7 App Store ratings · 4 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 10.0 · 145 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2018-07-25
- Data updated: 2026-08-14
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-virtual-armenia/id1397541590/reviews.md

## What is My Virtual Armenia?

Discover Armenian historical sites the Areni-1 Cave and Noravank Monastery from the comfort of your phone. Explore ancient Armenian sites documented through the My Armenia program, a joint partnership between USAID, the Smithsonian, and the people of Armenia. My Armenia builds on the Smithsonian’s expertise in research and curation to better understand and share Armenia’s cultural heritage. As part of these efforts, My Armenia has been working with local partners in the Armenian region of Vayots Dzor to document two key cultural heritage sites: 

- Areni-1 Cave: The Areni-1 Cave Complex was first investigated in 2007 and has provided valuable insight into the pre-history of the region and the people who lived there 6,000 years ago. The excavations at Areni-1 have shown evidence of burial pots containing the crania of juveniles, well-preserved plant remains, and the oldest leather shoe ever discovered. The site has also revealed a wine press and other winemaking technology, which makes it one of the oldest known locations associated with winemaking.

- Noravank Monastery: Noravank Monastery dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries. At the beginning of the 13th century, it was the spiritual center of the region and the residence of the Orbelian princes. The Armenian architect Siranes and the famed miniature painter and sculptor, Momik, also worked here. The site contains many original khachkars, carved Armenian cross stones, many designed by Momik himself. 

Please review the Smithsonian Privacy Statement (https://www.si.edu/privacy) and Terms of Use (https://www.si.edu/termsofuse).

## Key features

- Virtual exploration of historical sites
- Detailed information on Areni-1 Cave
- Explore Noravank Monastery
- Cultural heritage documentation
- Educational content on Armenian history

## Recent user reviews (4 of 4)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-virtual-armenia/id1397541590/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Love this !

*2022-04-23*

The app is well made and the translations are on a great level. However I would prefer to have an option to listen only to the Armenian speech without the translation. Please continue with other historical monuments in Armenia too, it’d be awesome !

### 1/5 — Unusable on my iPhone XR, iOS 14.6

*2021-06-12*

On iPhone XR, iOS 14.6, the audio plays normally but the video slides/jerks, up and down, back and forth, nonstop. (Other AR apps display normally, so the problem doesn't seem to be my phone.)

### 1/5 — Buggy

*2020-12-23*

I tried this app on iPhone SE 2020 running iOS 14.2 and iPad Pro 2020 running iPad OS 14.2. The app doesn’t function in either environment. The image starts to spin like crazy as soon as it’s loaded. It’s sad that this app falls to the same maintenance problem as many similar apps developed by educational institutions do. I understand that it’s hard for cultural institutions to have a dedicated team to maintain all the softwares. But it’s truly unfortunate that these apps which were often developed with great effort and could otherwise be a great educational resource become obsolete and not functional so soon. I have great respect for the Smithsonian digital team and all the work they do. I hope this app is still maintained and can be fixed soon.

### 5/5 — So realistic!

*2018-06-27*

Great looking application. Love that I don’t have to own a VR headset and can use the app just on my phone!

## Frequently asked questions about My Virtual Armenia

### What historical sites can I explore with My Virtual Armenia?

My Virtual Armenia allows you to virtually explore the Areni-1 Cave Complex, known for its prehistoric insights and winemaking history, and Noravank Monastery, a significant 13th-14th century spiritual and artistic center.

### What is the learning methodology used in My Virtual Armenia?

The app provides an immersive virtual exploration experience, complemented by detailed historical and archaeological information about the documented sites, fostering learning through discovery and curated content.

### How does My Virtual Armenia track user progress?

My Virtual Armenia focuses on providing information and virtual exploration rather than structured learning paths. It does not currently offer explicit progress tracking features.

### Does My Virtual Armenia offer any certifications?

My Virtual Armenia is an educational exploration app and does not offer any formal certifications upon completion of its content.

### What devices does My Virtual Armenia support?

My Virtual Armenia is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices, making it accessible for users within the Apple ecosystem.

### How often is My Virtual Armenia updated?

The latest version of My Virtual Armenia is 1.1.9, which was last updated on August 25, 2021. Future updates will depend on the developer's release schedule.

### What is the age rating for My Virtual Armenia?

My Virtual Armenia has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users, including younger audiences interested in history and culture.

### Does My Virtual Armenia have ads?

No, My Virtual Armenia does not contain advertisements. It is a free application provided by the Smithsonian Institution.

## Version history (last 3 releases)

### 1.1.9 — 2021-08-25

Updated to support iOS 14. Magic Window can now be disabled in the event of a gryoscope error.

### 1.1.8 — 2018-09-20

Users can now drag the screen to rotate the Magic Window view. Press the "Reset" button in the app to return to default behavior.

### 1.0.7 — 2018-06-25

No release notes.

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## Related topics

[armenia](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/armenia)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-14.*