Ruins of St. Paul's Attractions & Landmark
Ruins with Panoramic Views
Macau,
Macau
+853 2831 5566
+853 2851 0104
http://www.macautourism.gov.mo..
mgto@macautourism.gov.mo
Overview
Wide stone steps sweep you up to the facade of this 17th century Christian cathedral, which is all that remains ever since a disastrous fire in 1835. Funny enough, this has only enhanced the cathedral's allure so that it is now the focus of sightseeing in Macau. Climb up to the first tier's arched windows for a panoramic view of the city, a close-up glimpse of the carvings detailing the story of Christianity, and a bird's eye view of the tourists below wrestling with pigeons, cameras and hawkers.
It gets incredibly crowded, particularly on the weekend, but this really is the heart of Macau, and I could spend hours there watching people. Lots of food close by, and it is the perfect place to eat a couple of egg tarts and enjoy the beautiful Macau winter days.
Each part of the church fascade tells a story of the Bible. The structure is grand and the best place to start a visit to Macau. Also visit the small museum underneath the ruins. Then go to the bottom of the steps of the fascade, buy a famous egg tart then turn right down the first street and enjoy fantastic furniture shopping (custom made). Even if not buying, you will be amazed by the workmanship and prices.
Sao Paulo is the icon Macau, the attraction that you see on all the post cards! I guess it symbolizes the romance of the Portugese colonial past. It was fun to look around a bit and take photos, but not all that interesting.... But while you're there, don't miss the adjacent Museum of Macau. We had originally just decided to duck inside the museum for a couple of hours to escape the oppressive heat outside, but boy, we're glad we went! The exhibits were very interesting and gave us a deeper appreciation of Macau's cultural history.
