Hong Kong and Macau_ City Guide (Lonely Planet, 14th Edition) - Andrew Stone [253]
LUÍS DE CAMõES GARDEN Map
Jardim de Luís de Camões; Praça de Luís de Camões; 6am-10pm; 8A
This garden is popular with locals practising Cantonese opera or playing Chinese chequers. In the centre of the park is the Camões Grotto (Gruta de Camões), which contains a 19th-century bust of the one-eyed national poet of Portugal, Luís de Camões.
CHURCH OF ST ANTHONY Map
Igreja de Santo António; cnr Rua de Santo António & Rua do Tarrafeiro; 7.30am-5.30pm
Outside Casa Garden and next to the roundabout, this church, built from 1558 to 1608, was the Jesuit’s earliest headquarters. The local Portuguese used to hold wedding ceremonies here, hence its name in Cantonese: Fa Vong Tong (Church of Flowers). It burnt down three times and the present architecture is a restoration from 1930.
FIRE SERVICES MUSEUM Map
Museu de Bombeiros; 2857 2222; 2-6 Rua de Coelho do Amaral; admission free; 10am-6pm; 8
Housed in the former HQ of the Macau fire brigade, the museum holds a small but interesting collection of old fire trucks from the 1940s and ‘50s, a manual pump from 1877, and lots of helmets and boots.
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MACAU PENINSULA WALKING TOUR
1 Largo do Senado Begin in the beautiful ‘Square of the Senate’ in the heart of Macau, which is accessible from the ferry terminal on bus 3. On the south side of the square facing Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro is the main post office, built in 1931, and nearby is the restored Museum of the Holy House of Mercy ( Click here). From here, walk to the northeastern end of the square.
2 Church of St Dominic Overlooking Largo de São Domingos is this church ( Click here), with its distinctive green shutters and doors.
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WALK FACTS
Start Largo do Senado
End Maritime Museum
Distance 4km
Duration Three to four hours
Fuel Stops Many along the way
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3 Macau Cathedral On the southern side of the square, you’ll spot a narrow road called Travessa de São Domingos. Follow this up to Largo da Sé and Macau Cathedral ( Click here).
4 Lou Kau Mansion Housed on Travessa da Sé is Lou Kau Mansion ( Click here), built in 1889. The street leads down into Rua de São Domingos. Take a right at the bottom of the hill and follow Rua de São Domingos and its extension, Rua de Pedro Nolasco da Silva, to the corner with Calçada do Monte. Just visible across the garden to the east is the Consulate General of Portugal, housed in an exquisite colonial mansion.
5 Monte Fort Begin climbing up Calçada do Monte, and once you reach Travessa do Artilheiros, turn left. A cobbled path leads up to Monte Fort ( Click here) and the Macau Museum ( Click here).
6 Ruins of the Church of St Paul Take the escalator down from the museum and walk west to the facade of the Church of St Paul ( Click here); there’s a platform offering stunning views over the town on the north side leading to the former choir loft.
7 Antique & Chinese Shops Walk down the stone steps in front of the facade. If you’re peckish, stop for tapas at Corner’s Wine Bar and Tapas Café ( Click here). Continue south along Cç de São Paolo, which is lined with antique shops ( Click here). Turn right onto Rua das Estalagens, which is full of traditional Chinese shops and, once you reach Rua de Camilo Pessanha, turn left. At the western end of this street, turn left again into Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro and on your left you’ll pass the Pawnshop Museum ( Click here).
8 Leal Senado Continue along Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro. After passing the Leal Senado ( Click here), take a right turn onto Rua Central, which changes names several times as it heads southwest for the Inner Harbour.
9 Church of St Augustine Towering above this end of Rua Central is the Church of St Augustine ( Click here) and opposite that the Dom Pedro V Theatre ( Click here).