Attration Category

The Guia Fortress is a historical military fort, chapel, and lighthouse complex in the St. Lazarus Parish. The complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Historic Centre of Macau.


Guia Fortress in Macau is well versed in the legends of the Macau isles. The structure like other forts in Macau was built in the 1630's to defend the border. The Virgin statue of Our lady of Guia Cathedral inside the fort, according to local fables left the chapel and repelled enemy bullets with her robe when the Dutch invaded Macau in 1622. Flanking the entrance to the lighthouse, a stone sculpture speaks of the history of the Guia fortress.


The fort and chapel were constructed between 1622 and 1638, after an unsuccessful attempt by the Netherlands to capture Macau from Portugal. The lighthouse was constructed between 1864 and 1865, the first western style lighthouse in east Asia or on the China coast. The lighthouse stands at 91 meters tall, and has a light visible for some 20 miles in clear weather conditions. The complex was built upon the highest point on Macau, Guia Hill, and named after the same location. Today, the site is a tourist destination.