The delight of Macau is to walk among its Portuguese heritage, dating back to the first settlements in the 16th century. Both the first and last European colony in China, Portuguese traders administered the region until the handover in 1999, leaving behind a wealth of architecture that bears testimony to this encounter between East and West.
In fact, the historic centre of Macau is the most complete and consolidated array of European architectural legacy standing intact on Chinese territory today. The product of a cultural exchange between East and West that spanned over 400 years, the historic centre was also recently inscribed on the World Heritage List, making it the 31st designated World Heritage site in China.
Sites visited during our guided walk:
The Leal Senado building, which today dates from a reconstruction in 1874, and possesses a distinct southern European architectural style. The library on the first floor, opened in 1929, takes the Biblioteca do Convento de Mafra as its model and is furnished with many vintage pieces.
We also walk through beautiful Senado Square, which has been the centre of Macau since the beginning, and plays host to many public events and festivities. In the past, this was where the governors inspected military troops and the police force when they took up their posts.
Admire one of the most beautiful churches in Macau, St Dominic Church, which was built by Dominican priests in 1587. This was the first church to be constructed in China, and was originally constructed of wooden slats. Finally rebuilt in stone in the 1828, the basic layout is influenced by both Portuguese and Spanish styles.
Ruins of St Paul's - walk around one of Macau's most famous landmarks, the ruins are the facade of what remains of the Church of Mater Dei. The church was part of St Paul’s College, founded in 1594 and closed in 1762, and was the first Western-styled university in the Far East. The facade displays a special mix of Eastern and Western styles, and is the only one of its kind in the world.
Old city wall – to protect itself from foreign aggressors, the Portuguese began building a city wall around Macau as early as 1569. As we walk, we see the remains of this fragile structure, unique in its makeup of clay, sand, rice straw, rocks and oyster shells.
Mount Fortress - built between 1617 and 1626, the fortress occupies an area of around 10,0000 square metres in the shape of a trapezium, and was the heart of the Macanese defence network. It now functions as the Macau Museum.
A Mah Temple – with fabulous views, this is one of the oldest and most famous temples in Macau, and contains valuable historical artefacts today. It is also the longest surviving buildings in Macau - built in 1488, the temple is dedicated to the goddess of seafarers and fishermen. The name Macau is thought to be derived from the temple. As you walk around, you will still see men and women praying for good fortune.
