Macao Applying for World Cultural HeritageThe Ruins of St. Paul Church, a symbol of Macao and a tourist Mecca, is being recommended to join the list of the World's Cultural Heritage, according to an official from the special administrative region (SAR) government.Fernando Chui Sai On, secretary for social affairs and culture, told Xinhua Friday that the SAR government is making a relevant application to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). If the efforts pay off, the Ruins of St. Paul Church will become Macao's first world cultural heritage, he said. Macao will hold a series of symposiums and activities to publicize its relics and experts and scholars will be invited for inspection, the official said, adding that the application efforts have won support from a few state departments. The Ruins of St. Paul Church was designed by an Italian architect and priest. Work on the church started in 1602 and was completed in 1638. The large church was surrounded by a wall. A fire razed it on September 22, 1835, leaving just the facade and the stone stairs as we see today. |
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