Ruins of St. Paul's host restoration works from 23 November
Published on 11/14/2026 at 14:50 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSConservation and visitor access
- The Cultural Affairs Bureau begins phase three at the monument on 23 November 2026.
- The Palace Museum heritage centre will restore the upper facade dove while the crypt and museum close during scaffold work.
- The former Mater Dei Church was built between 1602 and 1640 and forms part of Macao World Heritage.
Restoration works at the Ruins of St. Paul's (Ruínas de São Paulo) in Macau will enter their third phase on 23 November 2026, with the upper facade's bronze dove scheduled for conservation. The work is being carried out at one of China's best-known heritage sites by the Centre for the Preservation and Transmission of Cultural Heritage of the Palace Museum in Macao, under the Cultural Affairs Bureau.
The official programme also sets out several access changes between 23 November and 15 December 2026. Travellers will find the facade in a conservation area during parts of the programme, while the archaeological site, Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt will close during scaffold installation and removal.
Restoration works reach the upper facade from 23 November
The monitoring and restoration programme runs in stages. Structural laser scanning took place from 8 to 13 November 2026, with fencing placed in the forecourt and on the staircase while daytime public access continued. The next stage covers 23 November to 15 December 2026 and includes restoration of the bronze dove on the top tier.
Scaffolding will be installed from 23 to 29 November and removed from 12 to 15 December. During both periods, the Ruins of St. Paul's site, including the virtual reality exhibition, Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt, will be temporarily closed. From 30 November to 11 December, the restoration itself will continue with temporary fencing, while those facilities remain open, according to the official restoration programme.
The Centre began work on the monument's seven bronze statues in 2025. The first phase covered the Virgin Mary statue on the third tier and two statues on the right side of the second tier. The second phase, completed in early 2026, involved two statues on the left side of the second tier and the Jesus Christ statue on the fourth tier. The remaining dove statue is the subject of phase three.
A 1602-1640 church facade frames the conservation work
The monument is the surviving facade of the former Church of Mater Dei, built between 1602 and 1640. A fire destroyed the church in 1835, leaving the facade and the nearby remains of St. Paul's College. The site is part of the Historic Centre of Macao, which is recognised as a World Heritage area.
That history gives the November and December works a precise focus: the conservation programme concerns bronze sculpture attached to the upper levels of a seventeenth-century facade, rather than a general refurbishment of the surrounding historic district. The Macao World Heritage page places the monument at Company of Jesus Square and identifies the adjacent college remains as part of the historic complex.
Visiting Ruins of St. Paul's: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The restoration programme affects the site from 23 November to 15 December 2026, with the bronze dove included in the third phase.
- The facade remains the focus of the works, but the archaeological site, virtual reality exhibition, Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt close from 23 to 29 November and from 12 to 15 December 2026.
- The monument stands at Company of Jesus Square on the Macau Peninsula, beside the remains of St. Paul's College.
- The visit includes a prominent staircase leading to the facade, while temporary fencing may separate the forecourt and steps from conservation areas.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Ruins of St. Paul's on social platforms
These links open searches for Ruins of St. Paul's on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Ruins of St. Paul's
When does restoration take place at the Ruins of St. Paul's?
The third phase runs from 23 November to 15 December 2026, including work on the bronze dove on the upper facade.
What changes for visitors at the Ruins of St. Paul's?
The archaeological site, virtual reality exhibition, Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt close from 23 to 29 November and from 12 to 15 December 2026.
Where is the Ruins of St. Paul's and how do you get there?
The monument is at Company of Jesus Square on the Macau Peninsula, near the archaeological remains of St. Paul's College.
