Ruins of St Paul's 大三巴牌坊

About Ruins of St Paul's

The broad staircase gives a frontal view of the surviving elevation, while the remains behind it reveal that the landmark is part of a larger lost complex. The Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt adds religious objects and burial context when open. Treat the forecourt, ruins and museum as distinct parts of the visit rather than stopping only for a photograph from below.

The complex originated as St Paul's College (圣保禄学院), founded by the Jesuits in 1594 and closed in 1762. Its attached church, the Church of St Paul (圣保禄教堂), was largely destroyed by fire in 1601 and rebuilt afterward under the design of the Jesuit priest Carlo Spinola (嘉禄·史皮诺拉). A fire during a typhoon on 26 January 1835 destroyed the church and college, leaving only the facade, part of the foundations and the 68 stone steps in front of it.

The church was China's first Baroque-style building; its facade combined Chinese motifs, such as traditional stone lions and Chinese characters, with European classical elements, a fusion attributed partly to Japanese Christian craftsmen who worked on it after being expelled from Japan in 1587. Construction of the facade began in 1608 and was completed between 1637 and 1640, with its carvings and statues finished by 1644.

In 1992 the ruins were named one of the “Eight Sights of Macau”. On 23 October 1996 the Macau government built the Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt on the site of the original altar, displaying relics from Macau's churches. In 2005 they were inscribed on the World Heritage List as part of the Historic Centre of Macau, and in 2010 were named one of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Origin in the World.

What to look for

• The surviving stone church facade rises above a broad staircase.
• Archaeological remains behind the facade mark the former church-and-college complex.

Location & getting there

Getting to Ruins of St Paul's

Go to Company of Jesus Square at the foot of the staircase. Follow the signed visitor route into the ruins and check the separate entry arrangements for the Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt.