On either side of a long atrium, lined with ornate railings, were the building’s east and west wings. At the top landing was the lobby of the Legislative Chamber, which regrettably was out of bounds as the assembly was in session. As we climbed up, we noticed, mounted at the entrance to the mid-landing, the Coat of Arms of Ontario, containing emblems reflecting Ontario’s British heritage as also a symbolic representation of the deer, moose and bear - the most common animals indigenous to Ontario. The grand staircase was impressive with its mahogany railings and decorative ironwork. We were just in time for a free guided tour of the stunningly beautiful interior sections of the building, encapsulating the nation’s history, architecture, art and traditions. This stately Romanesque structure houses the unicameral legislative chamber of the Canadian province of Ontario, of which Toronto is the capital. From there it was a 500-metre walk to our next destination - the Legislative Assembly Building of Ontario in Queen’s Park. This was our first journey on the Toronto subway, a quick 10-minute ride to Queen’s Park Station. Disappointed, we continued on our way with a five-minute walk to Dundas Station. Unfortunately, having set off early, we were unable to visit the museum which is normally open from 12 pm. Today it has been converted into a historic house museum on the life and times of the Mackenzie family and provides a glimpse into the social climate of Victorian Toronto from the 1860s to the 1890s. This was the last home of William Lyon Mackenzie, Toronto’s first mayor, who lived there until his death in 1861. It depicts the crucifixion of Christ and blue, yellow and red are the prominent colours in this outstanding window pane. Leaving the hushed sanctity of the cathedral, we walked further down Bond Street to the Georgian-style Mackenzie House. But it was the beauty of the cathedral’s stained glass windows that took our breath away, especially a large window above the altar, which is the focal point of the building’s interior. The cathedral is built in the English Gothic Revival style with an imposing tower 260 feet above the ground. Its foundation stone was laid in May 1845 and its construction was mainly financed by Irish immigrants residing in the area at that time. It is a Roman Catholic Church and one of the oldest churches in Toronto. The starting point of our on-foot excursion was the St Michael’s Cathedral Basilica located at 65 Bond Street. With some beautiful summer weather and a clear blue sky, we followed her lead and set out on a fascinating and off-the-beaten-track tour of Toronto. When our friend Prathyusha suggested that she had a free morning and would gladly show us around, we jumped at the opportunity. She proposed a walking tour in downtown Toronto skipping the usual tourist destinations of the CN Tower, Art Gallery of Toronto, St Lawrence Market etc. During a brief visit to Toronto, en route to the USA, my wife and I were wondering, given the limited time available to us, how best we could visit the noteworthy tourist spots in the city.
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