#20ThingsILoveAboutMacao
Macao doesn’t just have a UNESCO World Heritage Site; it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Historic Center of Macao – which takes up much of the peninsula – has remained intact for a very long time, and provides a unique look at how the meeting of East and West has developed over nearly five centuries. In stark contrast to Hong Kong, famous for burying its history under new skyscrapers, Macao has done the exact opposite by celebrating the past as well as its future. There are very few places that can boast such a pristine window into days gone by.
A visit to Macao must include a walking tour of this entire area, where I advise you carry a camera, make sure to take your time, and seek out the many architectural treasures that can be found here. I like to check out the alleyways; they often lead to interesting and unexpected little areas, like quaint public gardens and tiny civic squares – I find there is great satisfaction to be gained in these little discoveries. You won’t get lost, but you can certainly lose yourself as you follow your nose through these captivating back streets – especially, if like me, you like to stray off the beaten path.
As you wind your way through old Macao you will see some breath-taking buildings, such as the 16th-century Leal Senado Building (Portuguese for Senate Pavilion) which served as Macao’s first seat of government and has, over the course of its life, been a post office, a museum and even a prison, before becoming a government office once again.
Another picturesque point of interest is nearby Senado Square, which features Portuguese cobblestones that, for a moment, almost fool you into thinking you actually are in Lisbon – until the dulcet tones of spoken Cantonese bring you back to China.
