Kai Fairfax_St Marys Cathedral_Attractions

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- St Mary's Cathedral

· Located opposite Hyde Park, this is the seat of Sydney's Archbishop and is known as the Mother Church of Australian Catholicism.
· Built from local sandstone, the cathedral features Gothic architecture with pointed arches, reminiscent of medieval European cathedrals.
· The famous Moroccan priest's floor pattern in the underground crypt features intricate Genesis-themed mosaics made from colored stone fragments, renowned worldwide for its craftsmanship.
· St Mary's Cathedral is famous for its high-standard music and choir, internationally recognized as one of the world's finest, regularly performing on tour.
· Visitor guidelines: No mobile phones, no hats, photography allowed but without flash.

Transportation
Take bus 480 or 483 to St Marys Rd Near Cathedral St stop

Admission
Free

Tips:
Free guided tours are available after 10:30 AM every Sunday.

Opening Hours
06:30-18:30 (January 1 - December 31, Monday-Friday)
06:30-19:00 (January 1 - December 31, Saturday-Sunday)

Kai Fairfax Apr 05,2025

There's definitely a strong Harry Potter vibe here! While I've visited many beautiful Orthodox churches before, and plenty of Christian churches too, none quite match the scale of this one. (Note: there's a crypt that requires a separate $5 ticket to visit.)

Interestingly, there's a Chinese warning sign at the entrance that proved rather ineffective - though to be fair, while Chinese tourists do tend to start taking photos as soon as they enter churches, it's not entirely forbidden. There are designated areas: photography isn't allowed in the prayer sections (marked by dividing lines), but is permitted elsewhere. However, it seems many Chinese visitors tend to ignore these Chinese-language warning signs and snap photos anyway!