Church of St. Anthony

Igreja de Santo Antonio

St Anthony's Church, or Igreja de Santo António, is one of the oldest churches in Macau. The church stands on the site of a chapel that was built in 1558. It was then rebuilt in stone 1638, but burnt down in 1809. The church was then rebuilt the next year, in 1810, and once again in 1875.

The present St Anthony's Church, built in the Neoclassical style, dates to 1930. Its façade and tower dates to 1940. The Portuguese community in Macau likes to have their weddings here, giving rise to a Chinese nickname for the church, Fa Vong Tong, or Church of Flowers. Another fire necessitated restoration to be carried out again in 1930 and further work was done on the facade and tower in 1940.

St Anthony's Church is named after St Anthony of Padua, near Venice in Italy. Incidentally I visited the mother church, the Basilica di Sant' Antonio in Padua where the saint's remains are kept. In Macau, St. Anthony is the patron saint of seafarers. On his feast days, his statue would be carried by a regiment of soldiers on a platform around the city.

Getting there

Buses that pass by the St Anthony's Church include No. 8A, 17, 18, 19 and 26.

Nearby Sights

Protestant Cemetery

Morrison Memorial Chapel

Camoes Garden

St Anthony's Church Location Map

Photos of St Anthony's Church

St Anthony's Church (9 November 2007)
© Timothy Tye

St Anthony's Church front facade

St Anthony's Church façade (9 November 2007)
© Timothy Tye

Inside St Anthony's (9 November 2007)
© Timothy Tye

Altar to Christ (9 November 2007)
© Timothy Tye

Altar to St Anthony? (9 November 2007)
© Timothy Tye

Basilica di Sant' Antonio in Padua, Italy

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