For many years, a special administrative region of China, Macau has followed its own path and, being in the past a colonial territory of Portugal, looks more western and European in every sense against the background of the rest of the Middle Kingdom. Macau's history begins 4000 BC. e., as evidenced by archaeological finds. Until the XVI century. Macau remained a small settlement, gradually passing into the power of one Chinese dynasty after another, until in 1513 the Portuguese ships dropped anchors at the mouth of the Pearl River. Portuguese merchants willingly settled in these parts and traded with Japan, India and the countries of Southeast Asia. Since then, many attractions have remained, and the answer to the question of what to see in Macau can be found in old colonial mansions, Catholic temples and forts. But modern Macau also attracts many tourists. The city is known for its vibrant nightlife - thousands of guests come to its casinos and clubs every day.
TOP 10 attractions in Macau
Ruins of st paul
The historic center of the city is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, and the ruins of St. Paul are called one of the most visited sites here. Founded in 1594 by the Jesuits as the first European university in the Far East, St. Paul's College helped train hundreds of missionaries from Europe. Near the university in the first half of the 17th century. built a church, the facade of which has survived to this day.
The temple, which now remains only in the form of ruins, was designed by the Italian Karl Spinola. The façade is decorated with stone carvings with oriental motifs and bas-reliefs that tell the story of Catholicism. The five levels of the façade are decorated with sculptures of the founders of the Jesuit order and images of the Holy Family.
Unfortunately, in 1835 the cathedral, which by that time was a cathedral, and the building of the College were destroyed by fire. Only a beautiful facade has survived, symbolizing a huge layer of culture during the Portuguese colonization.
Temple of Na-Cha
Against the backdrop of monumental ruins, the Chinese temple of Na-Cha looks very small. It was erected in 1888 by the Chinese of Macau in order to appease the deity of the same name, called upon to rid the city of the plague epidemic.
The building is preceded by a gate made of carved beams, decorated with clay sculptures of mythical creatures. The roofs of the temple and annex are pitched, and the interiors are decorated with traditional Chinese handmade furniture and golden-colored textiles.
Fortaleza do Monte and Macau Museum
Fortaleza do Monte was built in 1626 jointly by the Jesuit Order and the Portuguese authorities. The purpose of the construction was to defend against the Dutch invasion, which had begun several years earlier. On the plan, the fort has the shape of a trapezoid, is located on the top of a hill at an altitude of 52 m above sea level, and the thickness of its walls, equipped with loopholes, is about 9 m.
In the inner courtyard of the fortress, warehouses, a military arsenal and premises where the defenders of the fort were located are perfectly preserved. Today, a museum is opened in Fortaleza do Monte, whose exposition is popular with tourists:
- In the section on the history of Macau, you can look at the artifacts found in the course of archaeological research and excavations. Some of them are dated to the second millennium BC.
- The exposition of the department "Folk traditions" acquaints guests with the life and cultural characteristics of the peoples living in the region. It also displays works of art by Macau masters - from the Middle Ages to the present day.
- Part of the museum's collection is called "Modern Macau" and is dedicated to today's economic, political and cultural realities of the special administrative region of the PRC.
Another reason to visit Fortaleza do Monte is the stunning views of the city, sea and surroundings from the walls of the fort.
Seminary of Saint Joseph
The Jesuits have left a noticeable mark on the history of Macau. Both tourists and pilgrims come to the city to see the sights of that era. Representatives of the order played a significant role in the education of missionaries, opening for these purposes, in particular, the seminary of St. Joseph.
It was built and opened in 1728 and became the educational center of the Far Eastern and South-Eastern regions. In 1800, the seminary, where the program was close to the university, received an equal status with higher educational institutions.
The building of the seminary is very simple and laconically austere. It is built in neoclassical style and has no decorations. But the adjacent church, on the contrary, attracts with its decorative decoration. The building is in the shape of a cross. Its facade is crowned with a graceful arch over the main gate, and the roof is assembled with traditional Chinese-style tiles. The interiors are executed in the Baroque style - with many floral ornaments, gilded elements, a dome of complex shape and magnificent altars.
The temple on the territory of the Seminary of St. Joseph is the only structure on the territory of the Celestial Empire, built entirely in the Baroque manner.
Church of St. Lawrence
The first temple on the site of today, consecrated in honor of St. Lawrence, the Jesuits were erected two years after arriving in Macau. At first the church was made of wood, but in 1618 it was replaced by an earthen one. The current version appeared at the very beginning of the 19th century. The main architectural elements of the building's decoration belong to the neoclassicism style interspersed with the baroque.
On the plan, the temple has the shape of a Latin cross and is located in the middle of a lush garden. The interiors are decorated with a decorative colonnade and colored stained-glass windows depicting scenes from the lives of Christian martyrs. During Holy Week in Macau, you can watch or even take part in the Holy Procession. The Church of St. Lawrence these days is a stopover on the way of pilgrims.
Gui Fortress
In 1622, on the hill of Guy, the Portuguese authorities began building a fortress to protect against constant attacks from the Dutch. From a height, the sea and the entrance to the Macau Bay were perfectly visible, and after the completion of the work, there were no people left to encroach on the city.
The pentagonal fortress has a couple of towers at the corners, observation towers and several outbuildings inside the courtyard. The barracks and warehouses are well preserved, but the church invariably attracts special attention of visitors. In it you can see old paintings.
The monks built the temple in the first third of the 17th century. During its existence, it was repaired several times, and in the course of not too competent work, all the frescoes were painted over. Fortunately, they were restored, and biblical stories, written in a combination of traditional European techniques with Chinese elements, appeared to the world.
Guy lighthouse
Two hundred and fifty years after the appearance of the fortress, a lighthouse was erected nearby, which became the first structure of its kind built in Southeast Asia in the European style. Its construction was dictated by the need to observe the weather: from a height of 15 m, the surroundings were clearly visible for at least 15-20 km. Thus, it became possible to warn the townspeople in advance about impending storms and typhoons.
The facility was commissioned in 1865, but 10 years later it was damaged by a severe storm.
Only in 1910 the lighthouse was restored and electricity was connected to it. At the beginning of the XXI century. UNESCO lists the Macau Lighthouse as a World Heritage Site, and all foreign tourists now come to see the local landmark.
The Venetian Hotel
The Venetian entertainment complex in Macau is a record holder in many ways. When it was launched in 2007, it became the largest casino in the world, the third largest building on the planet by floor space and the 23rd in the list of the world's largest hotels. An American company from Las Vegas is involved in the construction and business development at Venetian, and Venetian uses all the best practices and traditions of its Western colleagues.
In a 39-storey skyscraper, you will find:
- One of the largest casinos on the planet.
- Three thousand hotel rooms of various categories - from simple doubles to royal suites.
- Sports and entertainment arena, which can simultaneously accommodate up to 15,000 spectators. The Cotai Arena hosts concerts, beauty contests, professional boxing and basketball matches.
- Exhibition Center, which regularly hosts automotive, jewelry and technology exhibitions.
- 350 stores where you will find everything from exotic fruits to diamonds on the shelves.
- 30 restaurants serving dishes from every cuisine of the world.
The hotel territory is stylized as Venice. Gondolas glide along the canals, and the clock on the "bell tower of St. Mark" marks the time.
Kuan Tai Temple
In the XVIII century. the Kuan Tai Temple served as a branch of the Chamber of Commerce. In it, they concluded deals and agreed on cooperation. This made sense, since the temple was dedicated to the patron saint of trade and was located in the main market square.
Today, this attraction of Macau is of interest to tourists, mainly because of the festival of the Drunken Dragon and the Dancing Lion, which takes place on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month. All those present are guaranteed a sea of food, alcohol and colorful spectacles.
Temple of a-ma
Dedicated to the goddess Matsu, the patroness of fishermen and sea traders, the Ah-Ma temple appeared on the shores of Macau Bay at the end of the 15th century. during the Ming dynasty. Each of its six parts has its own purpose, and in the complex you can see the reflections of all religions that exist in the territory of the Celestial Empire.
The Buddhist pavilion is decorated with decorative columns. In the oldest part of A-Ma, the Hall of Donations, the walls are decorated with carved portraits of sea demons. In front of the Gate Pavilion there is a stone with an image of a ship carved on it, and the Prayer Hall appeared thanks to donations from a Chinese merchant who miraculously escaped the storm.
