Treasure
of Sacred Art
Museum of St. Dominic Church
The Treasure of Sacred Art Museum can be found next to the Church of St. Dominic's.
The Church of St. Dominic's was built during the 1950's decade by the Portuguese Dominicans in Macau, together with a convent, which no longer exists.
The Church of St. Dominic's is one of the most beautiful churches in Macau, and it is situated right in the middle of the Leal Senado plaza of Macau.
The church was originally built in wood. In the year 1828, however, it was rebuilt in stone. The basic layout is influenced by both Portuguese and Spanish styles.
The architecture is Jesuit mannerist.
Here's something interesting: the Dominicans are well known for their love of the Blessed Virgin Mary. So, you will not find the image of Jesus Christ as the altar piece, but the image of the Madonna and Child.
In addition, this church was newly restored in 1994.
On the right side of the Church of St. Dominic's is the sacristy. The sacristy is the only surviving part of the old monastery/convent that was built with the Church when it was first constructed.
Inside the sacristy is the stairs that lead to the St. Dominic's Museum, The Treasure of Sacred Art on the second and third floors.
The sacristy, built together with the church, is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. It was also first built with wood but in the 17th century, the wood was replaced by an imposing construction, including three naves.
The sacristy received the architectural baroque influence during the 18th century, together with decorative characteristics of Macau region.
When the Religious Orders were abolished in Portugal in 1834, the museum received many articles of sacred art that are presently displayed in the Treasure of Sacred Art.
The museum occupies what is left of the ancient cloister and also the other rooms that are still connected to the church. Many of these artifacts are also from Macau.
The Treasure of Sacred Art in the Church of St. Dominic's was opened to visitors since the year 1997. To get a good experience out from the visit to St. Dominic's, you should visit the church first, absorbing its peacefulness and solemnity.
You will also be able to experience to some extent, the atmosphere and the ambience of the ancient Catholic missions in China.
The rich collections of gold objects, statues, richly ornamented canonicals, religious paintings together with other liturgical vessels can be found in the museum rooms up the church.
Many of these artifacts are from Macau. Several of these are of high, religious, and cultural value. There are other exhibited pieces inside the Treasure of the Sacred Art that come from different parts of Asia, namely from India.
There are approximately 300 pieces of excellent quality artifacts that date back from the 17th to the 19th centuries.
For a patron Christian, the Treasure of Sacred Art is very special and a must-see when visiting Macau not only for the Christianity that's associated with the pieces inside the museum but also for the information that one will gather by entering and exploring it.
However, if you're not a devotee of Christianity and if you aren't even a Christian at all, the Treasure of Sacred Art is still a place that's worthy of a visit.
It's a very interesting museum, and it has collections of many facts and pieces of religious history from many ages of time in the country.
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