Guia Chapel & Lighthouse
The chapel of Our Lady of Guia was built in 1622 in the highest point of the Macau peninsula. The need of this fortress was apparent after the first Dutch attack to the city. The Feast of the patron of this chapel is the 5th of August.
This high point give the alarm, ringing the bells as soon as a ship was found by the soldiers watching the horizon of the Pearl river. The small chapel is divided in two areas; the altar and the `populum” nave. The original frescos on walls and roof were recovered.
Together with Mont Fort, Guia Hill could have supplied crossfire over any enemy ship approaching the wall of the city through the Exterior Harbor or Praya Grande.
The primitive walls with four corner turrets had enclosed a 800 sq. meter area, housing the company of soldiers barracks, commander facilities, water, ammunition depot and a small hermitage.
British soldiers occupied this fortress during the Napoleonic wars, under the pretext to better protect the city against foreign invasions.
Annex to the chapel, in 1865 was built a lighthouse. This was the first of its kind in China Coast.
Since them by petroleum or by electricity her lamps provided a clear guidance to any ship harboring to Macau, justifying the “Guia” to guide, of her name.