Hong Kong and Macau_ City Guide (Lonely Planet, 14th Edition) - Andrew Stone [254]
10 Largo do Lilau Follow Rua Central’s extensions, Rua de São Lourenço and Rua da Barra, passing the Church of St Lawrence ( Click here) and Largo do Lilau; according to folklore, should you drink from the fountain in this romantic square, it’s a given that you’ll return to Macau one day.
11 Moorish Barracks Further on are these enormous barracks, completed in 1874 and now housing the offices of the maritime police. Rua do Peixe Salgado (Street of Salted Fish) debouches into Rua do Almirante Sérgio, where you should turn left. A short distance south is the ever-active A-Ma Temple ( Click here) and opposite, across Rua de São Tiago da Barra, is the Maritime Museum ( Click here). From here, you can follow Avenida da República to Avenida da Praia Grande and Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro or hop on bus 5 or 7.
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TAIPA & COLOANE ISLANDS
Taipa and Coloane are oases of calm and greenery, with colonial villas, quiet lanes, decent beaches and fine Portuguese and Macanese restaurants. They are connected to Macau by three bridges and joined together by Cotai, an ever-growing area of reclaimed land, with several new megacasinos sprouting up.
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Taipa Island
Taipa (Tam Chai in Cantonese, Tanzai in Mandarin) was actually two islands joined together by silt from the Pearl River. Reclam-ation has succeeded in doing the same thing to Taipa and Coloane.
Taipa has rapidly urbanised and it’s hard to imagine that just a few decades ago it was an island of duck farms and boat yards, with small fireworks factories. Now it boasts major casino-hotels, a university, a racecourse and stadium, high-rise apartments, a new ferry terminal and an airport. But a parade of baroque churches, Portuguese buildings, Chinese temples and lethargic settlements means it’s still possible to experience the traditional charms of the island. Buses 11 and 28A leave from A-Ma Temple and the ferry terminal, respectively, and have stops at most sights in Taipa. They also stop along Avenida do Infante Dom Henrique.
TAIPA VILLAGE Map
The historical part of Taipa is best preserved in this village in the south of the island. With a tidy sprawl of traditional Chinese shops and some excellent restaurants, the village is punctuated by grand colonial villas, churches and ancient temples. Avenida da Praia, a tree-lined esplanade with wrought-iron benches, is perfect for a leisurely stroll.
TAIPA HOUSE MUSEUM Map
Casa Museum da Taipa; 2882 7103; Avenida da Praia; adult/child under 12 & senior over 65/student MOP$5/free/2, Sun admission free; 10am-6pm Tue-Sun
The most beautiful sight on Taipa is this unusual museum, formed by five lime-green villas. The villas were summer residences built in 1921 by wealthy Macanese. Three hold permanent exhibitions, while the other two are used for receptions and special exhibitions.
TAIPA
The House of the Regions of Portugal (Casa das Regiões de Portugal) has costumes and examines traditional Portugal. The House of the Islands (Casa das Ilhas) looks at the history of Taipa and Coloane, with displays devoted to the islands’ traditional industries: fishing and the manufacture of oyster sauce, shrimp paste and fireworks. The last is the Macanese House (Casa Macanese), a residence in local style; it looks like the dom e doña (husband and wife) living here just left. The furnishings –blackwood furniture and Chinese cloisonné with statues and pictures of saints and the Sacred Heart – offer a snapshot of life here in the early 20th century.
MUSEUM OF TAIPA & COLOANE HISTORY Map
Museu da História da Taipa e Coloane; 2882 7103; Rua Correia da Silva; adult/student & senior MOP$5/2, Tue admission free; 10am-6pm Tue-Sun
This museum is built on the remnants of the former Island Municipal Council and tries to be a mini–Macau Museum, although the collections are not as good as those on Monte Fort. There’s a display of excavated relics and other artefacts on the 1st floor that represent the earlier cultural history of Taipa and Coloane, while the 2nd floor contains religious objects,