St. Dominic’s Church, Macau
St. Dominic’s Church, Arguably The Most Beautiful Church of Macau
Located near Leal Senado, the St.Dominic’s Church comes with a carved ceiling with Spanish crowns and three main halls, where a few arched brick gates separate the nave with its side halls and the main altar. The beautiful church was first built in 1587 by Spanish Dominican priests but was overtaken by Portugal disciples in the following year. Built with the intention to enshrine Our Lady of the Rosary, the St.Dominic’s Church was originally made from camphorwood and finally rebuilt in stone in the 17th century. The annual parade of transferring Blessed Virgine Mary to Penha Hill will take place in the church from 13 May.
The beautiful Portuguese colonial Catholic church entered the list of World Heritage Sites in 2005 as it is well-known for being a historic icon for Macau. It is now the main venue for the yearly Macau International Music Festival, and the church that has hosted the most number of concerts in the city.
The main hall of the church shines with its tinted glass windows, and the statue of ”The Virgin and Child” sits on the altar with two statues of Christ around it. In addition, a multitude of intriguing oil paintings and statues are found, including the famous statue of Jesus Christ.
In 1991, a maintenance project was carried out on the church by the Macau government, where the bell tower on the third floor was replaced with a museum called the Treasury of Sacred Arts, housing various catholic mass utensils and wood-carving pieces.
Location: In the middle of Senado Square (Largo do Senado), in the center of Macau, China.
Ticket: free
Opening time: 10:00-18:00
How to get there: Take bus No.3, 3, 3A, 4, 5, 7, 8A, 10, 10A, 11, 18, 19, 21A, 26A, or 33.
Nearby attractions: Museum of Macau, Ruins of Saint Paul’s Cathedral, Senado Square, Leal Senado, and Cathedral.
