Atlas of China
Ruins of St. Paul's 大三巴牌坊Dàsānbā Páifāng
Classified heritage · Macau, Macau
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Days to budget
- Half a day
- City
- Macau
- Region
- Macau
- Type
- Heritage
- Listed as
- Classified heritage
About Ruins of St. Paul's
The façade of the Church of Mater Dei (built 1602–1640 and destroyed by fire in 1835), known in Portuguese as the Ruínas de São Paulo, is all that remains standing, about 23 metres wide and 25.5 metres high and reached by a staircase. The carving combines a Western Baroque-Mannerist design with Oriental motifs: Jesuit saints, the Virgin Mary flanked by a seven-headed hydra and a Portuguese ship, Chinese lions and Chinese-character inscriptions. Archaeological remains of St Paul's College lie beside it, and a museum of sacred art and a crypt are built behind the façade.
How to get to Ruins of St. Paul's
On Largo da Companhia de Jesus, a short walk from Senado Square; the Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt behind the façade is closed on Tuesday afternoons except public holidays.
Nearby
- Historic Centre of Macau 澳门历史城区 under 10 km
Portuguese tiled squares, baroque churches and Chinese temples, a short walk apart - Tian Tan Buddha & Ngong Ping 天坛大佛与昂坪 40 km
A giant bronze Buddha on Lantau, reached by a 25-minute cable car ride
Also within 20 km: Na Tcha Temple, Ruins of St. Paul's 哪咤庙（大三巴） (under 10 km), Cinematheque Passion 恋爱·电影馆 (under 10 km), Na Tcha Exhibition Room 大三巴哪咤展馆 (under 10 km), Old City Walls (Calçada de S. Francisco Xavier) 城墙遗迹（圣方济各斜巷） (under 10 km), Travessa da Paixão 恋爱巷 (under 10 km), Building at No. 2, Company of Jesus Square 耶稣会纪念广场2号房屋 (under 10 km).
On the map
Open Ruins of St. Paul's on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it and what else is close, and to add it to a trip.
Open Ruins of St. Paul's on the map