Saint Dominic’s Church is an interesting church. It sits in the middle of Senado Square, which is ironic.
Saint Dominic’s Church dates back to the 16th Century. The church is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Macau, but the current building was rebuilt in the 1700s. The church’s Baroque style is a blend of European and Macanese influences; the blend of Chinese roof tiles with doors made of teak and ivory columns. However, the church’s history wasn’t always pretty. The church was the scene of violence and a Spanish officer was murdered at the altar’s foot.
The church’s irony isn’t as blatant. Senado Square is a major retail destination in Macau. I find it ironic that the church is located among the hoards of greedy tourists and locals stuffing their shopping bags with material possessions. Maybe it’s a reminder to not overindulged in material possessions.
As I wondered Senado Square, there were massive amounts of people walking around but only a handful of people walking into Saint Dominic’s Church. The church’s architecture wasn’t as impressive as some of the ones I’ve seen in Europe. It was humble in its stature with a Madonna holding a child inside the main altar. The light colors of the wall made it seem vibrant with its red carpet. I decided to leave after 10 minutes.
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