Senado Square (Largo do Senado) is a public square in Macau.

It is located in the
central area of the Macau Peninsula. Covering an area of 3,700 square meters
(4,425 square yards), this is one of the four largest squares in Macau; the others
being Praça do Centro Cultural, Praça do Lago Sai Van and Praça do Tap Seac. In
2005 the Senado Square was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List as it forms
part of the Historic Centre of Macau.

General Post Office besides Senado Leal Senado Building Opposite Senado
Square Square

The square is so named as since Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) it has been in front of
the Leal Senado Building. During the era of Portuguese control this is where the
Macau authorities used to review the troops on their inaugurations. In 1940, there
was a statue of a Portuguese soldier named Mesquita in the centre of the square. He
was responsible for the deaths of many Chinese soldiers during the hostilities with
the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Understandably, the statue has been destroyed by
Chinese people and replaced by a fountain; this is why the square is also called "the
Fountain".
In the early 1990s, the authority hired some Portuguese experts to pave the square
with a wave-patterned mosaic of colored stones. From then on this area has become
a popular place for cultural activities in Macau. The buildings around the Senado
Square have a long history and have many western features, so they have been well
protected by the authority and no one is allowed to alter the facades of these
buildings.
There are shopping centers and traditional Chinese restaurants around the square.
Fashion clothes, famous snacks and the scenic environment make it a famous
attraction in Macau. Firework displays, lion and dragon dances are usually held on
special days such as the Chinese Spring Festival and Christmas. One can go and
enjoy those activities.
 Senado Square, a Business Zone St. Dominic's Church

Other Attractions:
Around the Senado Square, there are other attractions. At the end of the paved
road, there is the St. Domingo's Church. On the third floor of the church there is a
museum of paintings, sculptures and liturgical ornaments that illustrate the history
of the Roman Catholic Church in Asia. Walk to north of the church and you will arrive
at the Ruínas de S. Paulo (Ruins of St. Paul). This is the most famous landmark in
Macau. Right at the east of the Ruínas de S. Paulo is the Museu de Macau (Macau
Museum), in which historical relics of Macau are exhibited. Walk to the southeast
along the Av. De Almeida Ribeiro (San Ma Lo) from the square, and you will find the
Grand Lisboa, which is a casino hotel and is known for its magnificence.

Senado Square
Senado square in Macau, China is one of the favorite popular destinations in Macau. Known
as Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro square in the official annals of Macau, Senado square was
constructed by the colonial rulers of Macau showcasing their glory and superior designing
capabilities. This attraction on the Macau sightseeing tour is now a splendid blend of Chinese
and Portuguese cultural traits.

Senado square in Macau with an area of 3200 sqkm is the largest conjunction of streets. Well
decorated and paved with a wave-patterned montage of colored stones, the public place is an
exquisite specimen of Portuguese city planning. Beginning from the main road and ending at
the church of St. Dominic, the roadway expands till the ruins of St. Paul's. This enlarged
pavement makes the heart of the Taipa a pedestrian ecstasy.

Senado square in Macau was built in 1918 to link Praia Grande with the inner harbor. With
its passage through the old "Christian quarter" and "Chinatown" it became an attraction for
the tourists. It was often used by the colonial rulers to showcase their strength and military
power. Senado square in Macau was the city centre which was place where the succeeding
the governors looked over military troops and the police force at the time of their
inauguration.

Senado square in Macau, nowadays hosts a number of celebrations. It is the venue to the most
of the public as well as religious festivals in Macau. The nightlife in Macau has its best
flamboyance at the Senado Square. The neo classical buildings at the square are well mixed
with the modern architectural splendors. This inhibits an example of assimilation capability
of Macanese culture. This civic hub of Macau contains an elegant fountain, space for public
events, trees, benches and cafes.
Plan your Macau tour and take pleasure in the scenic spots in the isles of Macau, China, Asia.
Asiarooms offers online information on Macau travel. For more information, explore relevant
links on Macau travel on Asiarooms.

In the middle of the 16th century, the Portuguese began to settle and trade in the
southwest area of the Macau peninsula. Macau subsequently developed into a main
port in China open to the outside world before the 19th century. It was also an
important international port in Asia.
With its prosperity in international trading, Macau attracted more people to settle
there from countries around the world. These people brought their different cultures,
their social customs, and their religions to this area and built houses, churches,
streets, fort and even a cemetery. This area is the core part of what is now called
the Historic Centre of Macau.

Macau Municipal Council, Senaso

At the same time, these settlers introduced to their own countries, the cultures,
religions and social customs of the Chinese people. Macau was a window by which
foreign countries got to know about China. Macau became the land where China
meets the cultures of the western world.
Throughout these 400 years, Macau has been the hub where cultures of the West
and the East exchange. In its Historic Centre, one can find the oldest and the best-
preserved western-style buildings in China, in different architectural styles emerging
after the Renaissance from Baroque to neo-classical. One can also find that the
numerous western religious buildings exhibit various features of different religions.
The architects of these western-style buildings absorbed the cultures of India and
China and added these characteristics into their buildings, even the murals in the
Guia Chapel were painted in Chinese style. The Chinese temples and residential
buildings make the architectural style of this Historic Centre very diverse. Until
today, people in this area have held their national beliefs and habits. They hold
various celebrations to continue their different traditions and the combination of
Chinese and Western cultures and elements.

A-Ma Temple Historical Area of Macau

The Historic Centre of Macau mainly has Portuguese unreligious architectures, some
churches, some Chinese residential and religious buildings and some streets and
squares connecting them. There are the Moorish Barracks, the Dom Pdro V Theatre,
Sir Robert Ho Tung Library, the Leal Senado Building, the Holy House of Mercy, the
Section of the Old City Walls, the Mount Fortress, the Guia Fortress, the Guia
Lighthouse and Lilau Square. One can also find St. Laurence's Church, St. Joseph's
Seminary Building and Church, St. Augustine's Church, Cathedral Church, St.
Dominic's Church, St. Paul's Ruins, St. Anthony's Church, the Protestant Cemetery
and the Guia Chapel; the A-Ma Temple, the Mandarin's House, Sam Kai Vui Kun
Temple and N Tcha Temple.
The Historic Centre of Macau has the quintessence of the Chinese and the Western
cultural exchange of more than 400 years, and provides a particular proof of the
exchange of cultural, architectural and religious influences between the East and the
West. Its unique value has made it to be included in the list of the World's Cultural
and Natural Heritage in 2005.