In the 16th century, Macau was home to the first Western-style university in eastern Asia, St. Paul's College. In 1835, the school and the neighboring Church of Mater Dei burned, leaving what is collectively known as the Ruins of St. Paul's, though the most notable feature is the church's towering facade and its graceful fusion of Eastern art and Western architecture. This symbol of the city's multicultural character and heritage is open to the public daily.
