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 This
is a rather long route, but this is compensated for by the fact that it is
imbued with significance.
This route reflects the very rich history
of Macau.
The starting point — Largo do Pagode da
Barra (Ma Kok Miu Chin Tei) [Barra Square], is connected to the very
earliest days in Macau when the Portuguese first stepped ashore on the
land of Macau. This is the spot which gave rise to the name “Macau”,
derived from the name of A-Ma, alias Matsu, Goddess of the Sea, to whom
the temple is dedicated. From here, Macau has developed over the centuries
from a small fishing village into a modern city. Moreover, she has always
blessed this land with peace, happiness and prosperity, forever ensuring
that the sea is calm and safe.
We round off the route at St. Paul’s
Ruins (Ruínas de São Paulo) and Monte Fort (Fortaleza do Monte) nearby.
Today, those who know Macau know St. Paul’s Ruins, as they are a symbol
of Macau. Similarly, those who know the history of St. Paul’s Ruins
usually have a better understanding of Macau, because St. Paul’s Ruins
are a perfect example of the mutual assimilation and crystallisation of
architectural arts from East and West. That is why Macau has been
applauded as a “melting pot” for East-West cultural exchange.
This historic route follows the development
of Catholicism in Macau.
There are four Catholic churches and two
colleges along the route: St. Lawrence’s Church (Igreja de São Lourenço);
St. Joseph’s Church (Igreja de São José) within the grounds of St.
Joseph’s Seminary; St. Augustine’s Church on the square of the same
name (Igreja de Santo Agostinho); and St. Dominic’s Church (Igreja de São
Domingos); and St. Paul’s College and St. Joseph’ s Seminary. The two
earliest churches are St. Lawrence’s and St. Dominic’s. The two
theological colleges trained and nurtured countless outstanding Jesuits
and missionaries and had a direct impact on the dissemination of
Catholicism and modern Western civilisation in China. The fact that St.
Paul’s was the first Western-style university college in the Far East
made Macau a Catholic base in this part of the world.
This historic route traces the life of the
Portuguese in Macau, passing through three major points where the
Portuguese met, relaxed, or discussed politics: Largo do Lilau (A Po
Cheang Chin Tei), Largo de Santo Agostinho (Kong Teang Chin Tei), and
Largo do Senado (I Si Teng Chin Tei). Even today, these areas retain a
feeling of the relaxing air of the Portuguese life-style. It is worth
noting that around these squares there are blocks of South European-style
houses, showing how deep-rooted Western architecture has become in Macau
and providing an idea of the life and flavour of Portuguese households.
This is a long route, but perhaps it is
just long enough to string up the footprints left in Macau by the
Portuguese over the past four hundred years!
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Start the Cultural
Heritage Tour here... 
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