Our Lady of Guia Chapel Macau and Lighthouse
Guia Chapel
Th Guia Chapel dedicated to Our Lady of is a 17th century building and forms part of the Guia Fort. The present chapel dates from 1637.
The altar of Guia Chapel has an image of the Virgin and a painting of Saint John the Baptist. The chapel is dedicated to Our Lady of the Snow.
The only religious ceremony celebrated at the Guia Chapel falls on the
5th of August every year, on the feast day of Our
Lady of the Snow.
The chapel nave measures 16 by 4.5 metres with thick bearing walls supporting a vaulted ceiling. A small sacristy is located on the left and a small choir is located above the main entrance.
The Guia Chapel Macau measure 7 meters high at the roof ridge. The eaves are 4.8 metres high. The roof is covered with traditional Chinese red tiles.
During restoration and maintenance work in 1996, frescoes were discovered inside
the Guia Chapel Macau. The frescoes are from distinct periods, the oldest phase dating
back around 300 years. Some paintings dates back to 1622. Murals on the ceilings
and walls are show both Oriental and Occidental symbols.
Apparently local Chinese artists painted the Guia Chapel Macau. The frescoes feature biblical themes intertwined with typical Chinese representations of lions, clouds and other motifs. The frescoes are perfect examples of East and West cultural exchange in Macau.
Guia Lighthouse
The Guia Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse on the coast of China. Constructed in 1864 it was completed in 1865.
Macau takes its coordinates from the exact location of Guia Lighthouse.
Originally, the light beam was lit by paraffin, operated through a wooden wheel and a rope to make the lantern rotate. Carlos Vicente da Rocha, a Macau-born Portuguese, designed the light.
In 1874, the lighthouse was damaged by a typhoon and stopped operating for over 30 years. After long repair works including the installation of mirror reflectors, the lighthouse went into operation again on 29th June 1910 and it has been in smooth operation ever since.
The lighthouse is a 15-metre high tower with a radius of 7 metres at the base narrowing upwards to 5 metres. The light transmitter is accessed by a spiral flight of stairs inside.
The tower has a simple rustic exterior. At the top, there is a circular observation platform, 7 metres in diameter, where the lantern is installed.
Guia Fortress
There is no exact record of the date of construction of Guia Fortress. However, it is certain that in 1622 there was already a military structure on the site.
An inscription found at the entrance of Guia Fortress has the following information: The Guia Fortress was financed by the citizens of Macao with Antonio Ribeiro as the Captain of Artillery. Construction began in September 1637 and was completed in March 1638, when Domingos da Camara Noronha was the Commanding Officer .
The Guia Fortress was equipped with sentry posts, ammunition depots and watchtowers.
The Guia Fortress was a restricted military area until 1976 when it opened as a major tourist attraction.
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