Fun things to do in Concelho de Macau

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The Catedral - Cathedral, originally constructed with taipa (compound material consisting soil and straw), was built around 1622.
During the restoration of 1780, the religious services were temporarily transferred to the old chapel of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia - Holy House of Mercy.
In 1836, a typhoon damaged this cathedral and the religious services were then transferred to Igreja de São Domingos - Saint Dominic’s Church, until repairs were completed in 1850 following the design of local architect Tomás d’Aquino.
The façade is characterized by pilasters and the twin belfries that stand out on the streetscape. The exterior is clad in Shanghai plaster, giving the church a monolithic subdued appearance.

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Kun Iam Ecumenical Centre, designed by the Portuguese architect Cristina Rocha Leiria, is located on an artificial Islet.
The Centre is divided in two parts:
Part 1. A 20 metres high bronze Kun Iam Statue. This statue was founded at a foundry in Nanjing, China. Another dome-shaped lotus with 16 petals stands on a 7 metres high pedestal.
Part 2. Kun Iam Ecumenical Centre, compriseng two levels. The 1st level is a Polyvalent Room housing the souvenir counter. The 2nd stage is a basement. It is home to a contemplation room and a small library for tourists

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This small traditional Chinese Budhist and Taoist Temple was built in 1888 and is dedicated to the worship of the deity Na Tcha.
This single chamber building is 8.4 m long and 4.51 m wide. It is painted in gray, with few ornamentations, except for paintings on walls under the entrance porch.
This temple, due to its location beside the Ruins of Saint Paul, remains of a principal Jesuit cathedral in the territory, serves as one of the best examples of Macau's multicultural identity.
In 2005, the temple became one of the designated sites of the Historic Centre of Macau enlisted on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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This tower, with 338 m, was designed by New Zealand engineering firm Beca Group and Gordon Moller of Craig Craig Moller architects for Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau. It was commissioned by Stanley Ho Hung-Sun after a visit to Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand, and officially opened some days before Christmas in 2001.
The tower comprises an observation deck with panoramic views, restaurants, theatres, shopping malls and the Skywalk X. It offers, definitively, the best view of Macau and, in recent years, has been used for a variety of adventurous activities. At 233 metres, the Macau Tower's tethered skyjump and Bungee jump by AJ Hackett from the tower's outer rim, is the 2nd highest commercial skyjump in the world, after Stratosphere Las vegas skyjump at 260 meters.
Unfortunately, during my visit to this tower, the weather was a little foggy.

Entrance Fee: 120 Patacas

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In Portuguese, Felicidade is translated into English by Hapiness. In fact, this street was, at the past, the centre of Macau's red light district. So, this street was thought to bring happiness to somebody.
Nowadays, the atmosphere is more family-oriented and the amazing shop houses along the street have been renovated to serve as guesthouses, restaurants and an assortment of shops.
As a Portuguese, I must say you that the charming restaurant Dragão - Dragon, located on this street, claiming for genuine Portuguese food, has a good service and ambience, but poor quality for Portuguese food. This is a very expensive restaurant oriented for Chinese tourists.

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This is among the oldest churches of Macau. It was founded in 1558 - first chapel -, altered and renovated in 1608, 1809, 1875 and 1940.
The special architectural style of the building qualifies it as one of the important elements of the Historic Centre of Macau.
Saint Anthony's Feast occurs on the Sunday following June 13 and in Macau includes a mass in Saint Anthony's Church and procession.

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The Santa Casa da Misericórdia - Holy House of Mercy is an historic building establisehd, as one of the most prominent and oldest charitable organizations in Portugal, by the Bishop of Macau in 1569.
It was responsible for founding, in Macau, the first western-style medical clinic and several other social welfare structures that still function to this day. Later, it provided support for orphans and widows of sailors who died at sea, a role that is intimately linked to Macau’s profile in the context of regional and international maritime trading routes.
This neo-classical building with some traces of mannerist influence building features a richly decorative arcaded façade. It is composed of a mixed variety of columns and pilasters set between the archways, creating behind them a passageway for pedestrians on ground level and a balcony on the upper level. The rhythmic placement of these pilasters and their height variations enliven the façade.
This monument is part of the historic Centre of Macau - UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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This building, erected in 1784, was the original municipal chamber of Macau. The name Leal Senado - Loyal Senate, derives from the title Cidade do Santo Nome de Deus de Macau, Não Há Outra Mais Leal - City of Our Name of God Macau, There is None More Loyal which was bestowed by Portuguese King D. John IV in 1654, after Portugal regained its independence following 60 years of rule by Spain (1580-1640). During this period, the people of Macau remained loyal to the Portuguese king, who at the time was exiled in Brazil.
The main façade of this neo-classic building is 14.5 m high and 44 m wide and is divided into three sections by vertical granite projections; the floor plan is arranged in a U-shape, with the arms turning away from the main avenue, Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro. On the ground floor there is a spacious lobby used for public exhibitions and as a reception area. Granite staircase leads up to the courtyard garden and to the public library, a good place to read local newspappers, and conference rooms on the first floor.
The most distinctive feature, rarely found in other buildings in Macau, are the walls covered with blue and white Portuguese ceramic tiles that flank the granite staircase, the central axis of the building.
The small garden has a simple design with decorative objects such as a bronze bust of Luís de Camões.
In its history, this building was damaged several times by typhoons. The last one was in 1936.
Nowadays, this building houses the offices of the Instituto para os Assuntos Cívicos e Municipais.