Guia Fortress

Background

Guia Fortress crowns Guia Hill (Colina da Guia), the highest point of the Macao Peninsula, in the São Lázaro area. It comprises the fortress (Fortaleza da Guia), the Chapel of Our Lady of Guia (Capela de Nossa Senhora da Guia) and the Guia Lighthouse (Farol da Guia). The fortress was part of the 17th-century Portuguese coastal defence system; construction began in 1622 and it was extended in 1637–1638. Accounts of the chapel's founding date differ, with about 1622 and 1626 both given; inside are murals that combine Chinese and Western themes. The lighthouse is one of the earliest modern lighthouses on the Chinese coast — the Macao Cultural Affairs Bureau describes it as the earliest modern lighthouse in the Far East and on the Chinese coast — and, according to the Bureau, Macao's geographical coordinates on world maps are based on it. According to tourism sources, the fortress's former underground air-raid shelter was later turned into an exhibition gallery (one account says in 2003). A local legend also tells that when the Dutch attacked in 1622, the statue of Our Lady left the chapel and blocked enemy cannonballs with her robe — a folk legend, not historical fact. In 2005 the Historic Centre of Macao was inscribed on the World Heritage List, with Guia Hill as its Zone 2.

Local customs

• After walking up the hill or taking the cable car, explore the fortress, gun positions and barracks remains
• go into the chapel to see the murals when it is open
• take in the Macao Peninsula and the Pearl River estuary from the summit platform
• look out for the signal mast beside the lighthouse where typhoon signals are hoisted — this is where the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau issues them.

Travel tips

• The path up the hill has slopes and steps, so take note if you have limited mobility. The lighthouse interior is generally closed, and opening arrangements for the fortress and chapel follow the on-site notices. You can take a bus to the Guia Hill area and walk up, or take the cable car from the Flora Garden (Jardim da Flora) area to the hilltop park and walk on to the fortress
• you can also walk up from the city centre. Check official information for routes, fares and timetables.
• Macao has a subtropical climate and can be visited all year round. Autumn and winter are cool and good for hilltop views
• summer is hot and rainy, and in typhoon season check the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau's signals before you set out.