Churches
When the Portuguese arrived in Macao more than four and a half centuries ago, they brought Catholicism with them and built many churches and convents. The old College of St. Paul served as the first Western university in Asia and became a significant entry point to China for foreign missionaries. Today, Macao is divided into Catholic dioceses on map, and magnificent Catholic churches can be found everywhere. Visit uniquely designed churches and learn more about their fascinating history.
St. Lawrence's Church
Built by the Jesuits in the mid-16th century, this is one of the three oldest churches in Macao. Its present appearance and scale was acquired in 1846. Situated on the southern coastline...
St. Joseph's Seminary and Church
Established in 1728, the old Seminary, together with St. Paul's College, was the principal base for the missionary work implemented in China, Japan and around the region. St. Joseph's...
Chapel of Our Lady of Penha
The first chapel was founded in 1622 by the crew and passengers of a ship which had narrowly escaped capture by the Dutch. The chapel served as a point of pilgrimage for sailors embarking...
Chapel of St. Francis Xavier
Built in 1928, this chapel follows the baroque style of Macao's major churches. It has a cream and white facade with oval windows and a bell tower. It stands behind the monument commemorating...
St. Augustine's Church
First established by Spanish Augustinians in 1591, this church maintains the tradition of organizing one of the most popular processions through the city, the Easter Procession...
Chapel of St. Michael
Set in the beautiful, landscaped Catholic Cemetery, this small chapel, built in 1875, is one of the best maintained buildings in Macao. Its exterior is painted green and white. A...
Our Lady of Carmel Church
Built in 1885, this church stands on a hill overlooking the sea, Taipa Village and the restored mansions of Old Taipa Praia.
Cathedral
Built around 1622, the Cathedral was originally constructed with taipa (compound material consisting soil and straw). During the restoration of 1780, the religious services of...
Our Lady of Fátima Church
Rebuilt in 1967, this church serves the people of the industrial Bairro Tamagnini Barbosa in the north of the city. It stands in a quiet courtyard behind wrought-iron...
St. Dominic's Church
Founded in 1587 by three Spanish Dominican priests who originally came from Acapulco in Mexico, this church is also connected to the Brotherhood of Our Lady of the Rosary. It was here...
Our Lady of Sorrows Church
This small church was built in 1966 to serve the needs of the settlement of Ka Ho, where the families of cured lepers and a few new cases live. It has a magnificent bronze crucifix over...
Ruins of St. Paul's
The Ruins of St. Paul's refer to the facade of what was originally the Church of Mater Dei built in 1602-1640, destroyed by fire in 1835, and the ruins of St. Paul's College, which stood...
Protestant Chapel
To serve Macao's small Protestant minority this chapel is appropriately situated in the cemetery where 150 British and American graves recall the days of the foreign trading and...
St. Anthony's Church
First built of bamboo and wood before 1560, this is one of the oldest churches in Macao, also marking the site where the Jesuits set up their earliest headquarters in the city. The church...
Guia Fortress (including Guia Chapel and Lighthouse)
The fortress was built between 1622 and 1638. Inside the fortress stands Guia Chapel, originally established by Clarist nuns, who resided at the site before establishing the Convent...
St. Francis Xavier Church
Built in 1951, this small attractive church is attached to an old people' s home, near the hill of Mong-Ha. The interior is simple and tranquil with a black marble altar. High...
St. Lazarus Church
The first building on this site was the Hermitage of Our Lady of Hope, or more popularly St. Lazarus, established in 1570 to serve lepers. At the same time a settlement for lepers was...