Tourists undeterred as restoration underway at Ruins of St. Paul’s

[Photo: Ricaela Diputado]

The second phase of restoration work on the Ruins of St. Paul’s is currently underway, with the construction period expected to last until Feb. 9.

Tourists say the construction does not bother them and that they will still return to take pictures at the site.

The historical area behind the ruins, including the Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt, will be temporarily closed from Jan. 5 to 7 and Feb. 4 to 6.

The “Visiting the Ruins of St. Paul’s in Space and Time” – Exhibition of Virtual Reality at the Ruins of St. Paul’s will also be temporarily closed to the public from Jan. 1 to 31 and Feb. 4 to 6, 2026, due to equipment inspection and maintenance, as well as renovation and maintenance of the bronze statues.

Currently, scaffolding has been erected on the facade of the monument.

A mainland tourist who made a special trip to visit the landmark expressed slight disappointment that the restoration work prevented him from seeing the monument in its entirety, taking ideal photos, and visiting the exhibition halls.

However, he believes this “imperfect” experience will become a reason and motivation for him to visit Macau again.

Another tourist stated that the restoration work did not dampen her travel mood. She shared that when taking photos for her family, she would observe and avoid the construction background by using techniques like zooming in on subjects to find ideal angles for her shots.

Other tourists also mentioned that while the maintenance work affected their travel experience, it is necessary for preserving the site, and they look forward to seeing it restored upon completion.

Meanwhile, a souvenir shop merchant said the restoration project has not impacted business, but current consumer spending remains relatively weak and expressed hope that the government will actively promote tourism to attract a more diverse range of visitors. Ricaela Diputado