Guia Fortress, Chapel and Lighthouse, Macau

Guia Fortress, Macau Overview

Located on the highest hill of Macau Peninsular, Guia Fortress is a 17th-century colonial military fort. Also referred to as Fortaleza da Guia, the fort complex houses Guia Chapel and Guia Lighthouse. the first modern lighthouse on the Chinese coast. It is worth visiting for the sweeping panoramic view of the Macau Peninsula.

Guia Fortress has been listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a part of the Historic Centre of Macau. One among the eight famous attractions of Macau, Guia Fort consists of barracks, an ammunition cache, a water cistern, commander’s house, a small art gallery and a storage area. Inside the fortress is an information gallery on the complex and the Chapel of Our Lady of Guia.

Being centrally located, a visit to Guia Fortress can be combined with Senado Square and St Paul's Ruins.

Guia Chapel

Guia Chapel, also referred to as Capela de Nossa Senhora da Guia in Portuguese, was built around 1622. The façade of the church is simple with a triangular pediment which is in contrast to the unadorned white building. A sacristy is located on the left of the chancel and at the entrance is a choir. The roof is adorned with the reddish ceramic traditional tiles.

The chapel was used as a storm warning in the past which alerted the Macau citizens with its bells. It is believed that Virgin Mary herself rose above the place of worship and protected the Macanese from the Dutch with her robes. The church also showcases a picture of John the Baptist who is the local patron saint. The frescoes were uncovered inside Guia Chapel during the routine conservation work and represent Macau’s multicultural dimension.

Guia Ligthouse

Guia Lighthouse was constructed between 1864 and 1865 and is the first western style lighthouse on the China coast.
It has a height of 91.4 metres and its light can be seen in 20 miles.
The base of the lighthouse is seven metres in diameter and gradually narrows upwards to five metres.
There is a circular observation platform where a lantern has been installed and can be accessed by spiral flight or the stairs.
The lighthouse is made up of red roof and white walls where you can find markings of Typhoon signals given by the Weather Bureau of Macau.

History and Architecture of Guia Fortress

Guia fortress was made to fend off Dutch invaders who wanted to seize Macau from the Portuguese. There had been several raids in Macau by the Dutch but they were unable to construct any defences because of the Chinese interference.

Constructed with the purpose of military defence and observation, the fort was kept as a prohibited military zone for a long time and was opened only on the birthday of Our Lady and Ninth Festival. In 1976, when the Portuguese army withdrew from Macau the fort was converted into a tourist spot. The 52 metres long Guia Hill Air Raid Shelter was transformed into an exhibition corridor in 2003.

How to Reach Guia Fortress

Bus: Bus numbers 2, 2A, 6A, 12, 17, 18, 18A, 18B, 19, 22, 23, 25, 25B, 32 and 56 can be boarded to reach Guia Fort.

Taxi/Car: One can take a taxi or walk from Senado Square which would take approximately 30 minutes.

Cable Car: There is also a Cable Car facility from Macau Flora Garden which can be utilized or one can climb up the stairs where a wide circular path encircles the hill and connects with Guia Fortress. The Cable Car facility is available from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM from Tuesday to Sunday