Macau's World Heritage Site is unique, in that it isn't merely one building, but much of the city center. The Historic Center of Macau is a collection of over twenty locations that showcase the unique melding of two very different cultures, Chinese and Portuguese. The city center was added to the list in 2005, and is the 31st World heritage site within China. The list includes libraries, squares, temples, churches, houses, barracks, fortresses, cemeteries and ruins - we look at some of the most beautiful of these Chinese buildings and European architecture examples, all within a short walk of each other in the Mirror-Sea City.
A-Ma Temple is the best known of the Chinese buildings and temples on the list of sites that make up Macau's historic center. The others are Kuan Tai Temple and Na Tcha Temple, although there are also several places of worship in European style architecture, including St Anthony's Church, Holy House of Mercy, the Cathedral of our Lady of the Nativity, St Dominic's Church, St Joseph's Seminary and Church, St Lawrence's and St Augustine's Churches. It is dedicated to the goddess of seafarers and fishermen, Matsu. One of the most attractive features of A-Ma Temple is that it is within easy reach of tourist spots and hotels in Macau like Sofitel Macau and others at Ponte 16. Fireworks displays are common here, and there is also the A-Ma festival held on the 23rd day of the third moon of the year.
The Ruins of St Pauls Church are another of the most popular historical sites in Macau, and again are within easy reach of Macau hotels for tourists. Only the facade and the crypts of the Jesuits that once maintained the church are now left of what was once the largest Catholic church in Asia, which European royalty view with each other over to see who could provide it with the richest gifts. It was destroyed in 1835 by a typhoon-initiated fire, but has remained standing since. It is one of the most popular examples of European architecture in Macau, but by no means the only one.
We sometimes forget that history is not only in the distant past, but is being created all the time. Macau Tower is part of Macau's more recent history, but no doubt one of the structures that will survive for centuries to come. The observatory at Macau Tower is 61 stories high, and you can take in all the rest of Macau's amazing, much older European and Chinese buildings from a bird's eye view. You an even add a little adrenaline into your historical explorations, by touring the observation deck from the outside of the building - with the benefit of harnesses and lines, of course! You should be able to check out prominent sites from the air, like Mount Fortress, which was the first residence of the Governor of Macau, and is close to the Museum of Macau. A group of three Macau world heritage sites is also visible from here - that is Senado Square, which is bordered by two other sites, St Dominic's Church and Leal Senado.
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