Macau, the Magnificent
4 min readHeritage: the Historic Centre of Macau
Macau’s mixture of East and West brings together an eclectic mix of old World Europe and Asia in one beautiful package.
Portuguese traders leased Macau from the Guangzhou Mandarins in 1557, and Portugal governed Macau for more than 440 years until returning it to China in 1999. Today, Ma still maintains its Portuguese style, and with its numerous Mediterranean buildings, it feels as European as it does Chinese.
Senado Square, surrounded by bright-colored Portuguese buildings and cobbled stone alleys, is the best place to get feel for what Macau has to offer. Surrounding Senado quats, will find some of the best shopping in Macau, with everything from antique hinese fu Chinese furniture to the latest in designer fashion. The beautiful St. Dominic Church which has been standing for the past 400 years, east of Senado Square, holds mass on the weekends in Cantonese. Farther down the cobbled stone street is the Ruins of the Church of St. Paul. Built in the 1602 by Jesuit priests, the church was destroyed by fire in 1835, and only the massive stone facade survived. Today the ruins of St. Paul are the official symbol of Macau and offer great photo ops Next to the ruins is Monte Fortress, the largest fortress remaining from Macau’s imperial past. Inside the fort is the Macau Museum, an interesting museum with artifacts and a detailed history of Macau from the early days to the present.
Within walking distance of the museum is St. Michaels Cemetery to the east and Camoes Grotto and Gardens, to the north. South of Senado Square is the tallest point in Macau, the Macau Sky Tower, standing at 1, 109 feet (338 m), it’s hard to miss. Along the road leading to the tower you’ll pass by the brightly painted Residence of the Portuguese Consul and the Chapel of Our Lad church sits on top of a small knoll overlooking the Macau Sky Tower offers an unparalleled 360-mainland border city of Zhuhai. For those who are tours available that allow visitors to walk around the outer rim of by windows or even a rail. Harnesses with lines attached to a beam being blown off into oblivion If you prefer finding excitement with your feet firmly on the ground, then head to one of the many casinos or racetracks scattered throughout Macau. Lisboa Hotel with its birdcage shaped building is the most famous casino in town and is conveniently located between Senado Square and Macau Sky Tower. Across from the Lisboa Hotel is the Cybernetic Fountain, which provides a mesmerizing show of lights and water at night Senado Square is one Macau’s best-lnown sights.
Guia Lighthouse, northwest of Senado Square, occupies the highest natural point in Macau and was a sign of relief for far-Eastern trade ships, signaling that their arduous voyage from Europe was finally over. Beside the lighthouse is a small chapel and Flora Garden sits at the base and offers gondola rides for those who would prefer not to walk.
North of Flora Park is Kun Lam Temple, one of the largest temples in Macau, where many important documents have been signed, including the treaty leasing Macau to Portugal. The A-Ma Temple is on the southwest corner of the peninsula and is another site worth visiting; it is located across from the Maritime Museum and Barra Fort. The fort was once cannon battery, but it has since been turned into a Portuguese inn with amazing character and charm.
Along with the main peninsula, home to the majority of the 460,000 Macanese, there are, Taipa and Coloane. Taipa was home to many of the wealthy Macanese whose row of impressive mansions has been restored and turned into the Taipa House Museum. This museum gives viewers taste of what life was like for 18th and 19th century traders. Taipa Village has become a popular place with tourists and locals alike, known for having some of the best restaurants in Macau. Make your way up the small hill, located in the middle of the island, and you will find the Chapel of Our Lady Carmel, a quaint, quiet church built in 1885. Taipa Island is also home to the international airport, University of Macau, Jockey Club and Four Faces Buddha.
Coloane Island is the most remote part of Macaul, a spot where it is still possible to get a glimpse of village life. Hac SA Beach with its black sand, gentle waves and barbeque is favorite retreat for locals. Coloane Village is home to St. Francis Xavier Church and Tin Hau Temple. To the northeast is Coloane Arboretum and Seac Pai Park. Coloane also holds Macau’s only golf course, located at the Macau Golf and Country Club .
High rollers, big and small, come to Macau for its many casinos. The largest is in the Lisboa Hotel, but there are many venues to choose from, and all of them offer a variety of ways for you to win or lose. The casinos here are world class and most are open 24 hours.
Quotes
“Macau is the real deal when it comes to East meets West style. incredible. I felt like an emperor getting a royal rubdow “The spas are incredible. I felt like an emperor getting a royal rubdown.
