St. Lázaro Chapel

St. Lázaro Chapel

St. Lázaro Chapel, also known as Mount Bishop Chapel, Sea Cliff Our Lady Chapel, Penha Chapel, and Our Lady of St. Lázaro Chapel, is a Catholic church located on Guia Hill in Macau. It was built in 1622. The chapel has undergone several renovations and was rebuilt to its current scale along with the bishop’s private residence in 1935. Originally named Penha Chapel (Penha Church), “Penha” in Portuguese means a mountain rock by the sea. The chapel gets its name from being situated on the summit of Macau’s Guia Hill. The nearby buildings were once the bishop's residence, and Guia Hill is also called Mount Bishop, hence the church is also known as Mount Bishop Chapel.

The chapel features a simple yet elegant structure and is surrounded by winding mountain paths. After the demolition of an ancient fortress nearby in 1892, the chapel was expanded and gradually developed into its current grand form. Its towering bell tower gives a solemn and majestic impression, complemented by flower-lined paths, lush trees, and beautiful surroundings that attract many visitors. The building is topped with a Gothic-style spire, reflecting a classical eclectic architectural style. St. Lázaro Chapel and the bishop’s private residence have been designated as “Buildings of Architectural Artistic Value” and are included in the “Macau Heritage List.” In front of the chapel stands a marble statue of Our Lady gazing out to sea, with her hands clasped together in a serene expression. The chapel connects to the bishop’s private residence behind it; nearby, the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes features a statue of the Virgin Mary, symbolizing her apparition in Lourdes, France.

Capela de Nossa Senhora da Penha (Macau)

Must-visit reason: The most beautiful church on Guia Hill in Macau