Sé Cathedral
The Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady or Sé Cathedral was rebuilt in concrete in 1937 but was already existent as a chapel way back in the 17th century. As of today, Sé Cathedral conducts the largest number of Catholic holy masses. It is also the current cathedral of the Diocese of Macau.
St. Dominic’s Church
Located right in the heart of Macau’s city square, St. Dominic’s Church was constructed by three Spanish Dominican priests in 1587. It was refurbished in 1828 and was expanded to the size it is today. The bell tower was transformed into a museum, the Museum of Sacred Art that features more than 300 artifacts. This church was placed on the World Heritage List in July 2005, and became the 31st world heritage site of China.
St. Francis Xavier Church
Built in 1928, this chapel is painted a brilliant yellow and white, and the baroque style facade follows the style of Macau’s major churches. The chapel contains some of the most sacred relics of Christian Asia, including the bone from the arm of St Francis Xavier, who did a lot of evangelical work in Asia in the 1500s. St Francis Xavier was well known for converting Japanese to Christianity and so many Japanese Christians visit the church today.
St. Anthony’s
The church used to hold weddings for members of the Portuguese community, giving rise to the church’s Chinese name Fa Vong Tong (Church of Flowers). It was built in 1560 and was reconstructed several times until 1930. It is also where the Jesuits set up their earliest headquarters in the city.
Ruins of St. Paul’s
Arguably Macau’s most famous landmark, the Ruins of St. Paul’s is an iconic stone façade, the remains of what used to be the greatest of Macau’s churches, the complex of St. Paul’s College and the Cathedral of St. Paul, built in the 16th century, but burned down in 1835 leaving only its very large and beautiful façade. At the rear of the façade a staircase enables you to climb up to the windows to get a closer look at the stone carvings and to enjoy a panoramic view of the city below. The Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt was built at the bottom of the ruins in 1996 and houses many religious artifacts.
Chapel of Our Lady of Penha
Originally built in 1622 by Portuguese sailors that had escaped capture during a Dutch invasion attempt in Macau, the entire structure has since been rebuilt and today the church is exceptionally beautiful. It is surrounded by trees and flowered paths and is a popular site for wedding photos and a frequent backdrop for local TV shows and movies. It’s located at the top of Penha Hill and also offers arguably the best view in Macau.