望德堂區 São Lázaro

Why is São Lázaro district called São Lázaro? We’re standing in São Lázaro, the smallest parish in Macau. It’s named after St. Lazarus’ Church. This church has a fascinating history, intertwined with the very fabric of this district. São Lázaro district, known in Portuguese as Freguesia de São Lázaro, is located in the central-east region of the Macau Peninsula. It’s surrounded by the parishes of Nossa Senhora de Fátima, Santo António, and Sé. St. Lazarus’ Church, built between 1557 and 1560, is one of Macau’s oldest churches. It stands on Rua de João de Almeida. The church we see today isn’t the original structure. It was completely rebuilt in 1885. However, a piece of the past remains. The Cross of Hope from the first chapel stands in the forecourt. This district was originally home to lower-class residents and Portuguese missionaries. It earned an unfortunate reputation as a hygiene black spot in 1883. This led to a redevelopment plan in 1894. The plan, approved in 1900, aimed to reshape the entire area. The goal was to improve living conditions and modernize the city. Most of the buildings were demolished, except for the church and a few others. New streets were designed. This marked Macau’s first urban renewal project. The project expanded to include Tap Seac, reclaiming farmland and building new roads. Many of the streets we see in São Lázaro district today, including those around the church, were part of this plan. By 1965, São Lázaro, along with surrounding areas, became an administrative district. In 1992, it was designated as an “evaluated building complex”. The name “São Lázaro” comes from the church, Igreja de São Lázaro, whose patron saint is St. Lazarus, associated with healing and hope. The Chinese name, 望德聖母堂, emphasizes “hope”. This reflects the area’s transformation from a place of illness to one of renewal and progress.