Macau, or Macao, is a Special Administrative Region of China. It has been one of the most economically successful territories until the neighboring city of Hong Kong put it into the shade by its galloping economic development.
Actually, Macau started to develop as a trade center only after the Portuguese settled here in the 16th century. The ruins of Saint Paul’s Cathedral, captured by the objective of our webcam, represent the most important landmark of present day Macao. As a matter of fact, this church was a part of the Saint Paul’s College (also known as College of Madre de Deus), which was founded by Jesuits which were at the service of the Portuguese. At that time, it was the first Western university opened in China and in the Far East.
Originally built in 1580, the Saint Paul’s Cathedral was later reconstructed by the famous Italian jesuit architect Carlo Spinola and local Japanese Christians. Unfortunately, both the Cathedral and the College were completely destroyed in a terrible fire in 1835. All what we can see today is the southern stone facade with beautiful carvings and 68 stone steps leading up to it.
In 2005 the ruins of Saint Paul’s Cathedral were added to the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.
