More World Heritage Macau

Location: Cathedral Square

The Cathedral of Macau has a very long history. First built in 1576, it was originally a small wooden structure. In 1849, local catholic parishioners collected donations to rebuild the church. A year later, the then Bishop Jeronimo Jose da Mata, consecrated the church and administered the first Holy Mass. However, the cathedral was almost destroyed in a typhoon 24 years later. The Cathedral was finally rebuilt in 1937 in concrete. This is how it appears today.

Many of the major events in the Church's calendar is centered on the Cathedral. During Easter, there is the procession of Our Lord of Passion between the Cathedral and St Augustine. Then there is a solemn parade on Good Friday that goes around Senado Square. Special candle light Easter Vigil Masses, like in all other churches, are held here.

The architecture is quite simple, like a basilica plan with no columns in the middle. The building is very well lit by several clerestory windows and bright skylights on the side altars or chapels.

Behind the main altar there is still a large space for people. From here you can appreciate the stain glass windows. A side chapel has a modernist altar and a good stain glass representation of the Christ the King. The altar of the Blessed Sacrament is located on the right of the main altar. Beautiful statutes are located in the side altars of the cathedral. Bright sunlight from the skylights above gives these figures a very sublime air.

Services are held every day, early morning and late afternoon. Sunday services have very good choirs.

The Seminary was founded by the Jesuits in 1728 where they educated many young Macanese and foreigners. However, in 1758, the Marquis of Pombal had the Jesuits removed, imprisoned and brought to Lisbon in 1762. The Lazarist took over the school in 1784. They provided a very high standard of education and the seminary received the distinction of "Royal Seminary". The school was eventually elevated into a university. Many famous missionaries passed through these doors and pushed the evangelization of China and other countries in the region.

The main building of the seminary was restored three times, in 1903, 1953 and 1995. The seminary building originally had only two floors and a third one was added at the end of the 19th century. Constructed predominantly of grey bricks, the solid walls stand on granite foundations. Inside, wide corridors give access to the various classrooms. The main corridor has arched doors on one side and arched windows facing the inner patio. The ground floor is paved with stone and ceramic tiles, while most of the upper floors are laid with teak. The roof is covered with Chinese tiles.

The seminary itself is located on Saint Augustine’s Square but access to the Church is only through the back.

This church was opened in 1758 as part of the seminary. Located on a hill, with twin brick roofed towers, it was a famous landmark that was often a subject for artists. It is laid out in cruciform shape, with a high domed ceiling. Its exceptionally fine acoustics make it an excellent venue for concerts during the annual International Music Festival. A door beside the altar leads to an exquisite walled garden containing an ancient well and plant nursery.

The building underwent many alterations, especially in 1865, 1903 and 1953. In the 1953 project, the building's exterior was completely covered in a grainy plaster. At this time, two wooden confessionals in a Gothic design were introduced. In 1999, the church underwent restoration work, returning the building to its original image.

In contrast to the seminary building, the church is renowned for its elaborate baroque style. The main façade is impressive, with two towers roofed with deep red glazed tiles. The three altars are elaborately ornamented and the broken arch pediments are supported by two sets of four spiral columns with gold-leaf motifs. The main altar houses a statue of St. Joseph.

The original church was built by Spanish Augustinian friars in 1586 in Baroque style as part of a monastery and taken over by the Portuguese three years later. The present neoclassic building dates from 1814 and has a spacious interior with three aisles separated by colonnades. The marble-clad high altar contains a statue of Christ carrying the cross.

Legend says that when the statue was moved to the Cathedral by Church authorities it would somehow return to St Augustine’s Church. Ever since, a procession has been held every year on the first Sunday of Lent. From St Augustine’s Church the statue is taken to the Cathedral for a night. The following day, the figure is carried through the streets back to the cathedral. Stations of the Cross are set up along the route. This event is attended by the clergy and hundreds of Chinese faithful and believers.

Another twist of the story occured in 1712. At that time the anti-Catholic government expelled the Augustinians and banned the Passos procession from St Augustine Church. Suddenly there was a food shortage. The local Chinese immediately associated the two events. They therefore demanded that "the man with the cross" walk the streets again. Eventually the procession resumed and as expected, the shortage ended.


Among the people buried in the church is Maria de Moura, a romantic heroine who in 1710 married Captain António Albuquerque Coelho. Coelho lost an arm when attacked by one of Maria’s unsuccessful suitors. She died in child-birth and is buried with her baby and António's arm. The tomb is right behind the main altar.

English services are held in St Augustine’s Church every Saturday and Sunday.

The building which now houses the Sir Robert Ho Tung Library was constructed before 1894, as a residence. It is a typical example of a beautiful mansion equipped with an arcade and a garden. The mansion was later bought by Hong Kong businessman Sir Robert Ho Tung in 1918 to be his villa retreat.

In 1941, when Hong Kong fell into the hands of the Japanese, Sir Robert moved to Macao and stayed until the war ended in 1945. He passed away in 1955. According to his will, the building was to be presented to the Macao Government to be used as a public library. It was opened to the public as a library in 1958.

This three-storey library is located along the St Augustine Square and is right beside the entrance to the St Joseph Seminary. The extremely attractive intricate steel gate arches open on to the square and the seminary

The library has both a European and Asian feel, and is set amid peaceful gardens. After extensive renovation, a newly-equipped 4-storey building was built in 2005 beside the old structure. This has been designed to capture the maximum amount of natural light, and provides readers with a great view of the buildings of Macau’s Historic Centre nearby. The old building contains many ancient books published in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and an exhibition gallery. The two buildings can seat some 400 people, making it the largest library in Macau.

The library allows readers to eat and talk in special areas; readers can also listen to music and watch movies in the AV room. It is a great space to sit for a break as you explore ancient Macau on foot.

Opening hours are Monday to Saturday - 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday - 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Location: St. Augustine’s Square

Across the leafy square from the Church of St. Augustine is a fantastically ornate and classically proportioned theater, designed by Pedro Germano Marquez in 1859, and completed in 1873. Shallow stone steps lead visitors up to the majestically colonnaded covered entrance. The oval auditorium has ground level and balcony seating, and although it is small in proportions this only adds to the intimate atmosphere. Sadly, only the occasional locally produced play or opera is held here now but the theatre is used for other events.

The Dom Pedro V Theatre was built in 1860. In 1873, the main façade of the building was renovated adopting a more neo-classical touch, including four sets of Ionic pilasters and a triangular pediment on the main façade. The arches of the main façade are 6 metres high and 3 metres wide. The theatre was left unused for almost twenty years because of termite problems but resumed operations after extensive restoration work carried out in 1993.

The floor plan of the theatre has a lobby area, a small ballroom, and a circular auditorium with a stage and long corridors on both sides. There is a flight of stairs leading from the side corridors to the first floor where ten pillars in the auditorium area support a crescent-shaped balcony. Unfortunately, the theatre is often locked so you need to attend a performance to appreciate the lovely interior.

Dom Pedro V Theatre was one of the first western-style theatres in China. The theatre is an important landmark in the region and remains a venue for important public events and celebrations today. In 2005, the theater became one of the designated sites of the Historic Centre of Macau enlisted on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The building is painted pale green, with matching dark green doors, windows and red roof tiles. The facade makes an appealing photograph of a building that would not be out of place in any European city.