This City is Home to One of the Most Colourful Squares in the World
Marked by its distinctive pastel shades of European-style buildings and wavy black and white paving, Senado Square is one of the most vibrant and charming reminders of Macau’s East-meets-West heritage. Such is Senado Square’s significance, there’s a saying that goes “You haven’t been to Macau if you haven’t been to Senado Square.”
Senado Square is unlike anywhere else in China. In fact, you’d be forgiven for thinking that you were somewhere in Europe. Macau’s main town square, sometimes referred to as Largo do Senado, is surrounded by Portuguese-style pastel coloured buildings and its distinctive mosaic wavy tiled paving which make it one of the most colourful and visually striking squares in the world. Popular with visitors, the square is an ideal place to sit around the rim of the central fountain and watch the world go by.
More than 20 distinctive pastel monuments of Macau’s colourful history surround the square, many of them protected buildings. The square is part of the Historic Centre of Macau which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.
Besides the neoclassical style pastel-coloured buildings, many visitors are quick to notice the wavy mosaic tiled paving. This unique paving was laid in the early 1990s when the square was declared a pedestrian-only zone in order to accommodate the increasing number of tourists.
Senado Square takes its name from the Leal Senado Building (Portuguese for Loyal Senate). Located at the far end of the square, the building was originally built in 1784 as the seat of Macau’s Portuguese government. Since the handover back to China in 1999, it is still home to Macau’s municipal council. The building is neoclassical in design and has retained all of its original master walls and primary layout, including the Portuguese-style courtyard garden in the back, which is well worth a visit.
There are an array of souvenir shops and traditional Chinese restaurants around the square. Firework displays, lion and dragon dances are usually held on special days such as the Chinese Spring Festival and Christmas.
Dotted around the square are other significant buildings to keep an eye out for. To the east of the square lies the Macau Cathedral – considered the most influential church in Macau. At the end of the paved road, there is the yellow painted St. Dominic’s Church – a stunning 16th-century Catholic church. On the third floor of the church, there is a museum of paintings, sculptures and ornaments that illustrate the history of the Roman Catholic Church in Asia.
Walk to the north of the church and you will arrive at the Ruins of St. Paul’s. This is the most famous landmark in Macau. To the east of the Ruins is the Macau Museum, in which historical relics of Macau are exhibited.
For more of Macau’s colourful European-style architecture, be sure to visit Travessa da Paixão which in Portuguese means “Love Lane”. Located just off from the Ruin’s of St Paul’s, this romantic little lane, no more than 50 metres long, is decorated with pink and yellow European-style buildings – it’s the closest thing to feeling like you’re in Europe, when you’re actually in China. Surreal, yes, but well worth a visit.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
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