St. Joseph Seminary Church, Macau 聖若瑟修院及聖堂, 澳门
The baroque St Joseph Seminary Church in Macau near Largo de Santo Agostinho is an historic church in the center of town. St. Joseph's Church is widely regarded as Macau's most beautiful Baroque church.
History
The church was built by the Jesuits on Mato Mofino hill between 1746 and 1758. The seminary trained clergy for work across China and East Asia. At a time when Macau was a vital gateway between Europe and Asia, the seminary played an important role in educating missionaries in theology, philosophy, Latin, and Chinese language studies.
After the Jesuits were expelled from Macau in the 18th century by order of the Marquis of Pombal back in Portugal, the building was taken over by the Lazarists (Congregation of the Mission).
The church is approached via a flight of granite steps leading to the central door under a "broken" arch.
Interior
The interior of the church is lavishly decorated with the dome reaching 19 meters.
The church holds a holy relic of a piece of bone from St. Francis Xavier, who was active as a Jesuit missionary in Goa, Macau and later Japan. The relic was previously in the Chapel of St Xavier in Coloane village near Taipa.
Address & Information
Rua do Seminario, Macau.
Located on Rua do Seminario, Macau in the historic centre of Macau, the church is about an 8 minute walk from Senado Square among other heritage sites such as the nearby Dom Pedro V Theatre, Macau Cathedral and St Lawrence's Church. It's usually open to visitors free of charge, with opening hours usually from morning to afternoon or early evening.
Visitors can also reach the church conveniently by bus: a number 9, 16, 18, or 28B stopping on Rua de São Lourenço) or on foot as part of a walking tour of Macau's UNESCO-listed historic district.
Macau Essentials
- For cheap flights to Macau check elong.com. A lot of budget airlines (Bangkok Airways, Jetstar Asia, AirAsia, Tiger Airways etc.) fly to Macau.
Macau International Airport has flights to a number of international destinations worldwide including Bangkok, Manila, Seoul and Taiwan and to many other Chinese cities including Beijing, Guangzhou, Guilin, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Shanghai, Shantou, Xianmen and Xian. - Trains - for non-fliers the best option is to take a train to Hong Kong from Beijing West Railway Station and then a ferry to Macau.
Tip: A cheap / fast way to get from Beijing to Macau is to fly from Beijing to Shenzhen and then take a coach to Hong Kong. The flight from Beijing to Shenzhen is considered domestic and therefore much cheaper compared with flying to Hong Kong direct. - Buses and taxis are the major modes of public transport in Macau. Pedicabs are also available for sightseeing. Macau drives on the right, like the rest of China, except Hong Kong.
- Visas: most passport holders of Western countries receive a free 30 or 90-day visa on arrival. To re-enter China requires a multiple entry Chinese visa, or a valid single/double entry visa.
Accommodation in Macau
Grand Lapa Hotel
For those looking for a comfortable and family friendly hotel, then a hidden gem is the Grand Lapa Hotel which is located directly next to Fisherman's Wharf and the Sands Hotel.
The hotel has undergone a transformation and has elegant interiors as well as some newly renovated hotel rooms. The hotel also has a modern spa, gym facilities and a swimming pool which has a water slide as as well as an outdoor Jacuzzi.
The Grand Lapa Hotel also offers a whole host of organised activities for children so parents can have a break. In terms of dining, visitors can try the Cafe Bela Vista, Naam Thai restaurant and Kam Lai Heen Chinese restaurant. The hotel's breakfast buffet is also very famous and worth sampling.
Address: Grand Lapa, 956 - 1110 Avenida Da Amizade, Macau
Wynn Palace Hotel
For those looking for more glitz and glamour in terms of accommodation then they can book accommodation at one of the most over the top hotels in Macau, namely the Wynn Palace. An incredible and vast structure, not only does the interior mimic the exterior in term of glamour and opulence, the hotel boasts an incredible water show and its own cable car system.
The hotel has a famed buffet and also boasts some international acclaimed restaurants such as Sichuan Moon, SW Steakhouse and Japanese specialities at Mizumi. If visitors love shopping then the Wynn Esplanade is a shopping mecca spread over 106,000 square metres.
Address: Avenida Da Nave Desportiva, Cotai, Macau
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