Historic Centre of Macau
Encyclopedia
The Historic Centre of Macau is a collection of over twenty locations that witness the unique assimilation and co-existence of Chinese and Portuguese cultures in Macau
, a former Portuguese colony
. It represents the architectural legacies of the city's cultural heritage, including monuments such as urban squares, streetscapes, churches and temples.
In 2005 the Historic Centre of Macau was inscribed on the UNESCO
World Heritage List
, making it the 31st designated World Heritage site in China
. It was described by UNESCO as: "with its historic street, residential, religious and public Portuguese and Chinese buildings, the historic centre of Macao provides a unique testimony to the meeting of aesthetic, cultural, architectural and technological influences from East and West," and "...it bears witness to one of the earliest and longest-lasting encounters between China and the West, based on the vibrancy of international trade."
. Each core zone is surrounded by a buffer zone.
Leal Senado Building is managed by the Provisional Municipal Council of Macao while the two government-owned temples, A-Ma Temple and Na Tcha Temple are managed by the Board of A-Ma Temple Charity Association and Management Board of Na Tcha Temple respectively. The Moorish Barracks is managed by the Macao Harbour Administration Building.
The rest of the items are owned and managed by the respective institutions. St. Joseph's Seminary Building and Church is owned by St. Joseph's Seminary and managed by the Catholic Diocese of Macao. The Holy House of Mercy Building is owned and managed by Holy House of Mercy Charitable Foundation. Dom Pedro V Theatre is owned and managed by the Management Board of Dom Pedro V Theatre.
The nominated buildings of the Historic Center are protected by various laws, including the Basic Law of the Macao SAR.
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
, a former Portuguese colony
Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire , also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire or the Portuguese Colonial Empire , was the first global empire in history...
. It represents the architectural legacies of the city's cultural heritage, including monuments such as urban squares, streetscapes, churches and temples.
In 2005 the Historic Centre of Macau was inscribed on the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage List
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
, making it the 31st designated World Heritage site in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. It was described by UNESCO as: "with its historic street, residential, religious and public Portuguese and Chinese buildings, the historic centre of Macao provides a unique testimony to the meeting of aesthetic, cultural, architectural and technological influences from East and West," and "...it bears witness to one of the earliest and longest-lasting encounters between China and the West, based on the vibrancy of international trade."
List of sites
The Historic Centre of Macao is made up of two separated core zones in city center on the Macau peninsulaMacau Peninsula
Macau Peninsula is the oldest and most populous part of Macau. It has an area of 8.5 km² and is geographically connected to Guandong province, at the northeast, through an isthmus 200-metre wide. The peninsula, together with the city centre of Zhuhai, sits on an island separated from the...
. Each core zone is surrounded by a buffer zone.
Zone 1
The narrow-stripped Zone 1 is located between Mount Hill and Barra Hill.- A-Ma TempleA-Ma TempleA-Ma Temple , situated on the southwest tip of the Macau Peninsula, is one of the oldest and most famous Taoist temples in Macau. Built in 1488, the temple is dedicated to Matsu, the goddess of seafarers and fishermen....
- Moorish Barracks
- Lilau Square
- Mandarin's House
- St Lawrence's Church
- St. Joseph's Seminary and ChurchSt. Joseph's Seminary and ChurchSt. Joseph's Seminary and Church is located in Macau.In 2005, the church became one of the designated sites of the Historic Centre of Macau enlisted on the UNESCO World Heritage List.-External links:*...
- St. Augustine's Square
- Dom Pedro V TheatreDom Pedro V TheatreDom Pedro V Theatre , situated at Largo de Santo Agostinho, Macau, is one of the first western-style theatres in China. The theatre is an important landmark in the region and remains a venue for important public events and celebrations today. The Dom Pedro V Theatre was built in 1860 by local...
- Sir Robert Ho Tung LibrarySir Robert Ho Tung LibrarySir Robert Ho Tung Library is a public library in Macau, China. It is located in St. Augustine’s Square in the Historic Centre of Macau, a UNESCO world heritage site. The library is housed in a mansion that has good historical, cultural and architectural value.-History:The building was constructed...
- St. Augustine's Church
- Leal SenadoLeal SenadoThis article is about the building. For the organization known as the Leal Senado, see Municipal Council of Macau.The Leal Senado Building was the seat of Macau's government during its time as a Portuguese colony. It is located at one end of the Senado Square...
Building - Senado SquareSenado SquareThe Senado Square, or Senate Square , is a paved area in the centre of the former Portuguese colony of Macau, China, enclosed by the buildings of the Leal Senado, the General Post Office, and St. Dominic’s Church. The square is paved in the traditional Portuguese pavement. The main road of Macau's...
- Sam Kai Vui Kun (Kuan Tai Temple)
- Holy House of MercyHoly House of MercyHoly House of Mercy of Macau , is an historic white building in Macau's Senado Square. Established as a branch of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia, it was built in 1569 on the orders of the Bishop of Macao....
- Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady
- Lou Kau Mansion
- St. Dominic's Church
- Ruins of St. Paul's
- Na Tcha TempleNa Tcha TempleThe Na Tcha Temple , built in 1888, is a Buddhist and Taoist temple in Macau dedicated to the worship of the deity Na Tcha.The small traditional Chinese temple is a simple, single chamber building measuring long and wide. The entrance porch opens to the temple building measuring in depth...
- Section of the Old City WallsOld Macau City Walls SectionsOld Macau City Walls Sections are the remains of the wall that surround Macau in the 16th Century. Built in 1696, the wall was needed as a defensive measure against attacks by the Chinese and other invaders. Not approved by the Chinese, the wall was destroyed by the Ming authorities until 1622...
- Mount FortressFortaleza do MonteFortaleza do Monte is the historical military centre of the former Portuguese colony of Macau, in the People's Republic of China...
- St. Anthony's Church
- Casa Garden
- Old Protestant CemeteryOld Protestant Cemetery in MacauThe Old Protestant Cemetery , located close to the Casa Garden, was established by the British East India Company in 1821 in Macau in response to a lack of burial sites for Protestants in the Roman Catholic Portuguese colony....
and the old headquarters of the British East Indies Company
Zone 2
The Zone is surrounded by a buffer zone that covers a park and immediate urban area.- Guia FortressGuia FortressThe Guia Fortress is a historical military fort, chapel, and lighthouse complex in the St. Lazarus Parish. The complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Historic Centre of Macau....
incorporating Guia Chapel and Guia Lighthouse
Management
Most of the items (buildings) are owned by the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) and managed by various departments or authority. Cultural Institute of the SAR Government manages the Mandarin's House, the Ruins of St. Paul's, the Section of the Old Wall, Mount Fortress and Guia Fortress (includes the Lighthouse and Chapel).Leal Senado Building is managed by the Provisional Municipal Council of Macao while the two government-owned temples, A-Ma Temple and Na Tcha Temple are managed by the Board of A-Ma Temple Charity Association and Management Board of Na Tcha Temple respectively. The Moorish Barracks is managed by the Macao Harbour Administration Building.
The rest of the items are owned and managed by the respective institutions. St. Joseph's Seminary Building and Church is owned by St. Joseph's Seminary and managed by the Catholic Diocese of Macao. The Holy House of Mercy Building is owned and managed by Holy House of Mercy Charitable Foundation. Dom Pedro V Theatre is owned and managed by the Management Board of Dom Pedro V Theatre.
The nominated buildings of the Historic Center are protected by various laws, including the Basic Law of the Macao SAR.