Hong Kong and Macau_ City Guide (Lonely Planet, 14th Edition) - Andrew Stone [248]
Northeast of Largo do Senado, this 17th-century baroque church is a replacement of a chapel built in the 1590s. Today it contains the Treasury of Sacred Art (Tresouro de Arte Sacra; 2836 7706; admission free; 10am-6pm), an Aladdin’s cave of ecclesiastical art and liturgical objects exhibited on three floors.
LOU KAU MANSION % Map
Casa de Lou Kau; 8399 6699; 7 Travessa da Sé; admission free; 9am-7pm Tue-Sun & public holidays
This well-preserved, Cantonese-style mansion was built in 1889. It belonged to tycoon Lou Wa Sio (aka Lou Kau), who made his fortunes in the opium trade and gambling during the 19th century. The mansion has kept its elaborate brick relief and lattice carvings on the windows, and some hybrid East-West architecture. Interestingly, there is no kitchen in the mansion, as the owner’s concubines were supposed to bring him pleasure rather than cook.
DOM PEDRO V THEATRE Map
Teatro Dom Pedro V; 2893 9646; Calçada do Teatro
Opposite the Church of St Augustine, this colonnaded, neoclassical theatre built in 1858 is the oldest European theatre in China. It opens during cultural performances.
CHURCH OF ST LAWRENCE Map
Igreja de São Lourenço; Rua de São Lourenço; 10am-4pm
The original church was built out of wood in the 1560s but was rebuilt in stone in the early 19th century. It has a magnificent painted ceiling and one of the church towers once served as an ecclesiastical prison. Enter from Rua da Imprensa Nacional.
CHAPEL OF ST JOSEPH SEMINARY Map
Capela do Seminário São José; Rua do Seminário; 10am-5pm
Southwest of Dom Pedro V Theatre is the Chapel of St Joseph, consecrated in 1758 as part of a Jesuit seminary. Its 19m-high domed ceiling has superb acoustics, and the church is used as a concert venue.
CHURCH OF ST AUGUSTINE Map
Igreja de Santo Agostinho; Largo de São Agostinho; 10am-6pm
Southwest of Largo do Senado via Rua Central is the Church of St Augustine. Its foundations date from 1586, but the present church was built in 1814. The high altar has a statue of Christ bearing the cross, which is carried through the streets during the Procession of the Passion of Our Lord on the first Saturday of Lent ( Click here). During research, the church was closed for maintenance.
SAM KAI VUI KUN TEMPLE Map
Sam Kai Vui Kun; Rua Sui do Mercado de São Domingos; 8am-6pm
Literally ‘a community hall for three streets’, this temple was a meeting place for merchants and then an adjudication court before the Chinese Chamber of Commerce came into existence in 1912. The temple is dedicated to Kwan Yu, the god of war and justice. It gets particularly busy in May, June and July when locals celebrate three festivals in the god’s honour.
TEMPLES
Macau has some interesting Chinese temples dedicated to important but lesser-worshipped deities. Na Tcha Temple ( Map; Nat Tcha Miu; Rua de São Paolo; admission free; 8am-5pm), sitting quietly beside the Ruins of the Church of St Paul, was built in 1888 and dedicated to the child god of war to halt the plague occurring at that time. The Nu Wa Temple ( Map; Nui Wo Miu; cnr Rua das Estalagens & Travessa Dos Algibebes; admission free; 9am-5pm), a family shrine-like temple in a faded yellow building, also built in 1888, was consecrated to the Chinese equivalent of Gaia. The 200-year-old Hong Kung Temple ( Map; Hong Kung Miu; cnr Rua das Estalagens & Rua de Cinco de Outubro; 8am-6pm) is for worshipping Li Lie, a Han-dynasty general. The boat-shaped sculpture in the middle of the main hall is for offering wine to the deities during religious festivities.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE Map
Sede do Governo; cnr Avenida da Praia Grande & Travessa do Padré Narciso
South of the Church of St Lawrence is the headquarters of the Macau SAR government. This pillared, rose-coloured building was erected in 1849 for a Portuguese noble. It’s open to the public for only one day a year, usually in September or October.
CHINESE READING ROOM Map
Rua de Santa Clara; 9am-noon & 7-10pm Tue-Sat, 9am-10pm Sun
This attractive octagonal structure, with its double stone staircase and little round tower, is the