The restoration of the façade of the Ruins of St. Paul, formerly known as St. Paul’s College, was the focus of the “Symposium on Cultural Heritage Conservation and Restoration,” held on Sunday in the Auditorium of the Macao Museum of Art.
The meeting brought together Chinese and international experts who will be directly involved in the restoration of this iconic monument, promoting the exchange of scientific and technical knowledge essential for the preservation of one of the most striking symbols of Macao’s cultural identity.
The symposium focused mainly on the conservation work on the façade and bronze statues of the Ruins of St. Paul’s. The initiative was organized by the Centre for the Preservation and Transmission of the Cultural Heritage of the Palace Museum in Macao (hereinafter referred to as the “Centre”), under the auspices of the Cultural Institute (IC, portuguese initials).
IC President Leong Wai Man emphasized that the Ruins of St. Paul’s were chosen as the Centre’s first major restoration project because they represent a unique testimony to centuries of cultural exchange between China and the Western world. According to her, protecting this heritage not only preserves the city’s memory but also reinforces Macao’s role as a platform for international cultural dialogue.
During the symposium, experts from the Palace Museum, Greece, Australia, and local academic institutions presented case studies and practical experiences, with an emphasis on bronze conservation and intervention in large-scale monuments with mixed materials.
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The contributions were considered relevant to addressing the specific technical challenges posed by the state of conservation of the Ruins.
The Centre was established through cooperation between the Macao SAR Government and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China in November 2024. The initiative aims not only to protect an icon of Macao’s world heritage, but also to affirm the city as an international center of excellence in the conservation of Sino-Western architectural heritage.
