Joanna James
The first thing that jumps to most people's minds when you mention Macau are the casinos. But when you look past the usual suspects, you realize the region has so much more than it meets the eye.
A seventeenth century Jesuit church, the remains of this church is one of the most iconic landmarks in Macau. With an incredible amount of statues and engravings, it was one of the most symbolic of testaments to its religion in the continent. Designed by an Italian Jesuit, it was completed by 1602 and was converted to a battalion after the removal of all Jesuits. Unfortunately, in 1835 a fire in one of the kitchens destroyed everything, leaving just the southern façade standing today. The UNESCO World Heritage site has since been buttressed and has a stairway that leads to the top. Finding a good hotel in Macau is not difficult as plenty of options such as the Hotel Okura Macau are available a short distance away.
A perfect example of how the Western world meets the Eastern, this has been the heart of Macau for centuries. Encompassing a total area of three thousand seven hundred square meters, the best time to visit the square is during the daytime. In this manner, you can get a clear view of the beauty and the classic Portuguese architecture used to build the square as well as the trippy wave shaped mosaic tiles on the floor. The quaint square has a relaxing atmosphere to it that makes it an ideal place to wind down after a long day of exploring Macau. However, on festival months, this urban centre is home to a number of large ceremonies and festivals.
Present in the South East part of the region, this is the most ancient of all temples. Dedicated to the God of seafarers, Mazu, the temple was built in 1488 during the reign of the Ming Dynasty and is one of the trio of famed Buddha Halls in the region. To put it into context, the temple was built long before Macau came into existence. There is a multitude of folklores about the goddess in Macau. Once you enter the location, you are treated with a serene and a calm atmosphere and given the opportunity to witness Chinese architecture in all of its glory.
Unless you have an intense fear of heights, the Macau Tower is an ideal place to visit. Rising sharply up the skyline to an astounding height of three hundred and thirty eight meters, it is tenth in the ranking of the tallest free standing buildings. Of course, the tower has an observation deck at the top which treats visitors to a 360 degree view of Macau and offers world class restaurants. It also has a special feature called the Skywalk X; a frightening walk atop the outermost edge. Added to that, the Macau Tower offers the world highest bungee jumping platform.
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A travel writer who has a pas...
