Macau is not just a Special Administrative Region of China. It is a place where European and Chinese cultures and architectures blend. More than 450 years of Portuguese administration (from 1557 to 1999) transformed this tiny peninsula into a unique enclave where Catholic churches stand alongside Chinese temples, and streets paved with wavy Portuguese cobblestones (calçada) bear Portuguese names.
The History of the Portuguese Arrival in Macau
The formation of Macau`s Historic Centre began in the mid-16th century when Portuguese sailors, following the South China coast, received permission from local authorities to settle on a narrow peninsula to dry goods and repair ships. This was not a territory conquered by force but a leased land, whose existence depended on complex diplomacy and the payment of tribute.
Here, on the edge of the mighty Ming Empire, the Portuguese began to build not just a trading post but a full-fledged fortress-city. Already in the 1560s, the first line of defense appeared — the Fortaleza de São Paulo do Monte (Monte Fort), protecting the city from the sea. The layout of the centre followed the terrain of the hills and the shoreline.
Main streets and squares — such as Praça do Senado (Senate Square) — were formed as public and commercial spaces, connecting the port with administrative and religious buildings. Every structure, from modest houses to grand churches, was built with a dual purpose: to assert a permanent presence and to survive the tropical climate, using local materials and adapting European architectural canons.
This heritage is not a museum relic but a living reality, recognized by UNESCO, which inscribed the Historic Centre of Macau on the World Heritage List. One can feel the spirit of Lisbon and Hong Kong, mixed with a unique Macanese identity, making the city a magnet for lovers of architecture, gastronomy, and authentic cultural experiences.
Macau - The World`s Gambling Capital
However, Macau has another status — the world`s gambling capital. In 1962, the government legalized and monopolized the industry. After the liberalization of the gaming market in 2002, Macau transformed into the world`s gaming centre, with revenues many times exceeding those of Las Vegas. The modern face of the city is largely shaped by this industry, which has created a phantasmagorical world of glass and steel.
The Cotai Strip: A Man-Made Miracle and an Avenue of Giant Casinos
The brightest symbol of the new era is the Cotai Strip, a sparkling strip of land that literally did not exist on maps in the 20th century. This district was entirely created on reclaimed land, wrested from the sea between the islands of Taipa and Coloane. Here, giant integrated casino-resorts stand, each a themed universe:
• The Venetian Macao: The world`s largest casino, where you can ride a gondola through canals under a sky painted like Venice`s.
• The Parisian Macao: With a half-scale Eiffel Tower, a giant atrium, and promenades in French style.
• The Londoner Macao: The newest project, with a replica of Big Ben, the Palace of Westminster, and statues of British celebrities.
• Wynn Palace, MGM Cotai, Studio City, and others: Futuristic complexes with huge media facades, dancing fountains, cable car cabins, and impressive shows.
This is the idea of leisure as total immersion in an artificial paradise, embodied in concrete and neon. Everything here is tailored to one goal: to make you forget about time and the real world outside the complex walls. You can ride a gondola through the "Venetian" canals in the morning, take photos in front of the Parisian Eiffel Tower or London`s Big Ben during the day, and watch fountain shows in the evening.
And all of this without leaving the air-conditioned space, moving through covered walkways between luxury boutiques, restaurants of famous chefs, and, of course, endless gaming halls. This is a world where luxury is not modest but deliberate and demonstrative: huge crystal chandeliers, gold trim, giant floral arrangements, and the constant background hum of gambling.
Casinos in Old Macau
On the original Macau Peninsula, the gaming industry is woven into the historic landscape. The dominant feature is the Grand Lisboa, a golden tower in the shape of a lotus, which has become a modern symbol of the city. Nearby are the legendary Casino Lisboa (a pioneer of the era) and Wynn Macao, whose "Tree of Prosperity" show has become a must-see. Here, casinos are not separate but integrated into street life, creating a surreal contrast.
The Historic Centre of Macau: A UNESCO Heritage Site
Before the era of large-scale land reclamation that began in the 20th century, the peninsula was many times smaller. The Historic Centre is a memory of what the "real," authentic Macau was like for centuries: a fortress-city forced to huddle on a patch of land where every square meter counted.
Narrow, winding alley-labyrinths (like the famous Rua da Felicidade — "Street of Happiness") climbed the hillsides, connecting squares and temples. The city developed vertically and concentrically, creating its unique, intimate, and dense atmosphere. All the main monuments were erected precisely on this original land, and their location was dictated by the terrain and the strategic logic of defense.
Macau`s Masterpieces on the UNESCO List:
The UNESCO list includes 22 key monuments and 8 squares ("largo"), connected by a network of routes. They can be roughly divided into two interpenetrating zones.
1. The Zone of European Heritage (the core of the colonial city):
• Senado Square (Largo do Senado): The heart of civic life. Its wavy Portuguese-style cobblestones lead to the elegant Senate Building (now the Municipal Council building), a symbol of secular power.
• The Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady: The main Catholic church of the diocese, embodying official religious authority.
• The Ruins of St. Paul`s: The majestic stone facade and crypt — all that remains of the greatest Jesuit creation in Asia (16th-17th centuries). This is the symbol of Macau, a brilliant synthesis of European Baroque and Eastern motifs (Japanese and Chinese stone carvers).
• Mount Fortress (Fortaleza de São Paulo do Monte): Built by the Jesuits around the Church of St. Paul, it protected the city. Today, it houses the Macau Museum, and its walls offer panoramic views.
• St. Dominic`s Church (São Domingos): Founded by Dominicans in the 16th century, with a lavish Baroque interior. Notable for being where the first constitutional charter in Portuguese was proclaimed in Asia in 1822.
• St. Anthony`s Church ("Igreja de Macau"): The oldest church, the spiritual center of the first settlers.
• Guia Fortress (Fortaleza da Guia): The highest point on the peninsula with the oldest lighthouse on the Chinese coast (1865) and the tiny Guia Chapel, adorned with rare frescoes in a mixed technique.
2. The Zone of Chinese Heritage and Syncretism:
• A-Ma Temple (Mazu Temple) at the foot of the hill: The oldest (pre-Portuguese) shrine, dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu. It is believed that the name "Macau" originated from it.
• The Mandarin`s House (Casa do Mandarim): A traditional Chinese residence with exquisite inner courtyards, showcasing the lifestyle of the local elite.
Macau is a city with two different faces. Don`t rush your itinerary — give yourself time to simply wander the old alleys, eat famous egg tarts, and peek into ancient temples. Then head to Cotai — perceive this district as a huge, bright amusement park for adults. All the charm of Macau lies precisely in this contrast.
