Jakarta Cathedral

St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral ranks 8th in the list of best places to visit in Jakarta. This is another important religious building in the city that is situated in the shadow of Istiqlal Mosque. The neo-gothic church, better known as the Jakarta Cathedral, dates back to the middle of the 19th century. Its proximity to the sizable mosque is seen as a representation of Indonesia's ideology of religious harmony and unity.

The cathedral appears to be made of stone from a distance, much like European churches. But if you look closer, you'll see that it's actually constructed of large bricks that have been plastered in plaster to mimic genuine stone. If you go inside, you'll see three ancient altars, enough seating for 8,000 worshipers, and a figure of Mary holding Jesus after his crucifixion. A modest museum that explains how Catholicism came to Indonesia is located right adjacent to the church, the Museum Katedral. It contains the documentation of Indonesia's earliest known baptism, which happened in 1808.

Google rating: 4.8/5.0

Address: Jl. Katedral No.7B, Ps. Baru, Kecamatan Sawah Besar, Kota Jakarta Pusat, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 10710, Indonesia

Phone number: +62 21 3519186

Official site: N/A