MM002-St. Anthony’s Church and forecourt

First built before 1560, this is one of the oldest churches in Macao, also marking the site where the Jesuits first set up their original headquarters in the city. The church was rebuilt in 1875, when it acquired its present-day configuration. In 1930, the building’s exterior was covered with a grainy “shanghai-plaster”. The church has a neo-classical façade and Baroque influenced interior, exemplified in the elaborate design of the main altar. In the past, this church was very popular among the local Portuguese community, particularly for wedding ceremonies, giving rise to the Chinese name of Fa Vong Tong, meaning “Church of Flowers”.