The great ruined facade and staircase to the church of the Mother of God, popularly known as St. Paul's, is the most prominent landmark of Macao. Designed by an Italian Jesuit, and, with the assistance of Japanese Christian artisans who had fled from feudal persecution in Nagasaki, the church was built at the period 1602 to 1637. In 1835, a big fire burned down the church, and leaving only the facade, the staircase, and portions of a wall.  It remained unchanged until revamping was undertaken and was completed in mid-1991. The facade is crowned by the cross of Jerusalem, below which are three tiers with niches containing statues that were cast from bronze, at a local cannon and bell factory.