The Ruins of St. Paul's, a valuable World Heritage Site in Macau

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🏛️ Review of the Ruins of St. Paul's, a Precious World Heritage Site in Macau

📜 A Long History

The Ruins of St. Paul's, or "大三巴牌坊" in Chinese and "Ruínas de São Paulo" in Portuguese, are one of Macau's most important landmarks. Built between 1602 and 1640 by Italian Jesuits and assisted by Japanese Christians, the church was originally called "Mater Dei," which means "Mother of God," and was the largest Catholic church in Asia at the time. It also served as part of St. Paul's College, the first Western-style university in East Asia.

Unfortunately, a major fire in 1835 severely damaged the church, leaving only the façade and 68 stone steps intact. A major restoration in 1991 led to its inclusion in the Historic Centre of Macau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

🏗️ Distinctive Architectural Features

The remains of the church's portal, which stands 23 meters high and 25.5 meters wide, are designed in the Baroque style, a harmonious blend of Western and Eastern art, evident in its carvings featuring both Christian symbols and Chinese elements.

The carvings on the facade are divided into five levels:

Level 1 (bottom): Above the main entrance is the Latin inscription "MATER DEI," meaning "Mother of God."
Level 2: Featuring bronze statues of four Jesuit saints.
Level 3: Featuring a statue of the Virgin Mary in the center, surrounded by bas-reliefs of angels, dragons, Portuguese boats, Chinese characters, and mythical creatures.
Level 4: Featuring a statue of Jesus Christ.
Level 5 (top): Featuring the symbol of the "Holy Spirit," a dove, centered on the sun, moon, and stars, with a cross at the top.

Other details reflect the intertwining of cultures, such as the Virgin Mary standing on a dragon, a symbol of Chinese identity.

🗺️ Getting to the Ruins of St. Paul's

The Ruins of St. Paul's are located on St. Paul's Road (Rua de Sao Paulo) in Macau's Old Town. There are several ways to get there:

By public bus: Take bus lines 3, 3X, 4, 6A, 8A, 18A, 19, 26A, 33, or N1A to Senado Square. Follow the signs for a short distance to the ruins of the church. The fare is approximately 2.5-3 Macau dollars (MOP), or about 10-12 baht.
By taxi: Taxis are available throughout Macau, with fares starting at 19 MOP and increasing by 2 MOP for every 240 meters.
By ferry: If coming from Hong Kong, take a ferry to the Macau Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal or Taipa Ferry Terminal, then transfer to a bus or taxi.
By free shuttle: Some casinos and major hotels offer free shuttles to Senado Square, which is located near the ruins of the church.
🌄 Atmosphere and Visiting Experience

The Ruins of St. Paul's are open to the public free of charge 24 hours a day, but the Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt behind the facade is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (except Tuesdays when it closes at 2:00 p.m.).