The Ruins of Saint Paul's, known as 大三巴牌坊 in Chinese and Ruínas de São Paulo in Portuguese, are the remains of a 17th-century Catholic site in Macau. They encompass the original St. Paul's College and the Church of St. Paul, also called "Mater Dei," a Portuguese church devoted to Saint Paul the Apostle. Today, these ruins stand as a prominent Macau landmark and are recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Origin worldwide. In 2005, they were formally included in the Historic Centre of Macau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The front of the ruins is designed in the style of a retable with a theme centered around the Assumption of Mary. Influenced by Japanese Christian artisans, the carvings at St. Paul's display unorthodox images drawing from Asian traditions, like depictions of Mary treading on a seven-headed hydra, described in Chinese characters as "Holy Mother tramples the heads of the dragon." The lower part of the structure features six stone-carved Chinese guardian lions.
Despite calls for the structurally unsound ruins to be torn down, excavations took place from 1990 to 1995 under the Instituto Cultural de Macau to explore its historical significance. The crypt and foundations were revealed, unveiling the architectural layout. Many religious relics were discovered, including those of Chinese Christian martyrs and the monastic clergy, among them the Jesuit college founder in Macau, Father Alessandro Valignano.
The Macanese government renovated the ruins into a museum, reinforcing the facade with concrete and steel to maintain its visual appeal. Previously, visitors could climb to the top via a steel staircase at the back, but due to conservation concerns, this access has been restricted.
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Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024/2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.