Sydney opera: description, history. How to get to Sydney Opera House?

Sydney Opera in Australia is not only the most popular landmark of this state, but also one of the most recognizable buildings in the whole world. This structure attracts tourists with its unique appearance, various shows and performances that are daily held on its stage. Therefore, if you are in Australia, then the Sydney Opera is almost a must. Where is this building, what is its history and features, you will learn today. So, get acquainted: Sydney Opera House!

Sydney Opera: photo, story

The grand opening of the Sydney Opera House took place in 1973. In a magnificent ceremony attended by the Queen Elizabeth II. The Sydney Opera House is located in the harbor of the city at Bennelong Point. This place was named after the Australian aborigine and a great friend of the very first governor of the colony. Today it is difficult to imagine that until 1958 there was a tram depot, and even before that - a fort.

Honor to be the architect of this building, which has become one of the most famous sights not only in Australia, but all over the world, fell Dane Jorn Utzon. However, despite the fact that the concept of spherical shells proposed by him was quite easily implemented, construction work was heavily delayed. Mostly, this delay was due to the inability to finish the interior decoration of the building in a short time. Initially, the authors of the project planned that the construction would continue for four years and cost 7 million Australian dollars. In fact, the Sydney Opera House was erected for fourteen years, spending $ 102 million on it!

Theater architecture

The building of the Sydney Opera House is made in the style of expressionism and is distinguished by a radical innovative design. The theater covers an area of more than two hectares. Its weight is 161 thousand tons. The building itself rests on almost six hundred piles, lowered into the water at a 25-meter depth.

The roof of the opera house consists of a series of so-called "shells". They are also often called "shells" or "sails". On top, the roof is covered with more than a million tiles of azulezhu white and matte. From a distance it seems that the design is of a purely white color, but for different lighting tiles provide different color scales and shades.

How can I buy tickets for a performance in Sydney Opera House?

In connection with the fact that this theater enjoys a truly huge popularity with many tourists from all over the world, as well as with Australians themselves, tickets to it should be purchased in advance. You can do this either in the building of the opera itself, or on its official website. The online booking option is very convenient, because you can take your time, date and time, and make a purchase with a credit card. Please note that group bookings for a group of 6-20 people can not be made through the site.

What does the opera guest in Sydney offer in addition to the performances

It is not necessary to believe that the Sydney opera implies only representations or study of its architectural features. So, for example, if you could not get a ticket for the desired show, then you can go on a daily excursion, during which you can see with your own eyes an extraordinary interior, as well as learn about interesting facts from the history of this famous theater of the largest Australian city. In addition, the Sydney Opera offers wishing students the opportunity to learn vocals, acting, creating theater scenes.

Shopping and restaurants in the theater building

Since the Sydney Opera House is not only a place where people can enjoy art, but also a popular tourist attraction, there are a variety of shops, bars and restaurants.

So, as for public catering establishments, then in the territory of this unique Australian theater there are inexpensive cafes with drinks and snacks, and luxury restaurants where you can taste refined dishes. Very famous Opera Bar, located right next to the water. In the evening, live music is played here, and visitors enjoy a magnificent view. In addition, in the building of the Sydney Opera House there are halls for celebrations, where weddings and various corporate events are held. Also, tourists can find here several shops offering souvenirs and colorful books about art.

Sydney Opera: where is

This famous Australian landmark is located at Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000. You can easily reach the Sydney Opera House by bus. They stop only 7 minutes walk from the theater. If you are active and do not mind cycling, you can drive to the opera house on this two-wheeled vehicle and park it in a special parking lot. By the way, this is what so many Sydney residents do, because here the bicycle is a very popular mode of transport for the local population. As for the personal car, it's not very convenient to get to the Opera, since parking here is very expensive and is mainly intended for people with disabilities.