Senado Square

 

Basic Information of the Senado Square

Chinese Name: 议事亭前地 Pronunciation: Yì shì tíng qián dì

Ticket: Free

Opening Hours: All day 

Building Time: 1869

Recommended Time for Visit: 1 Hour

Square Area: 3,700 square meters

Best Visiting Time: All year round

Address: Macau Peninsula Central, Lobby Area, in front of the Macau Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau building.

Popular Activities: Local people celebrate the "Macao Lotus Festival" every June and hold some performances here for other big festivals, such as the Spring Festival, Christmas.

 

Brief Introduction of the Senado Square

The Senado Square, located in the central area of the Macau Peninsula, is one of the four major squares in Macau. It was originally a place where the officials of the Ming Dynasty (from 1368 to 1644) negotiated a trade with the Portuguese and handled affairs of residence. Later, it gradually evolved into the city hall and was completely renovated. The buildings around the Senado Square which were demolished and rebuilt have not been changed too much in the past 70 years. The appearance of the old buildings remains unchanged until now.
 

In the center of the square stands a fountain, which is also a symbol here. The buildings around the Senado Square are full of European characteristics, and many have been rated as monuments of Macau. The facades of the buildings that have been listed as cultural relics are not allowed to be altered, but their internal structures can be.
 

In the early 1990s, the Macau government spent a lot of money hiring Portuguese technicians to use black and white Portuguese stones to pave the ground of the square and its surrounding streets, making it a pedestrian zone with a Portuguese urban style.

 

History of the Senado Square

In 1869, it was named as Senado Square.
 

In 1938, red and green grass was planted in the square, which was trimmed into a trapezoidal pattern and embedded with a huge cross, showing the shape of the national emblem of Portugal. Also, a lamppost was erected in the middle of the square.
 

In 1940, a trapezoidal lawn was built in the middle of the Almeida Ribeiro and the Leal Senado Building. A concrete pillar was placed in the middle of the lawn, on which a bronze statue of the Mesquita (worn a military uniform with a sword) was erected. (Mesquita was a soldier of the Macanese in Macau. He led Portuguese soldiers to occupy the Border gate and attack the Beiling Fort during the Baishaling Incident in August 1849 and killed the officers and soldiers of the Qing army. Later, he was promoted to the rank of colonel.) In December 1966, the bronze statue of the Mesquita was pulled down by the demonstrators. And then, a fountain was built on this site.
 

In 1993, the fountain was rebuilt, and the ground was paved with black and white gravel inlaid with wavy patterns, which was gorgeous and diverting. Nowadays, the celestial sphere symbolizing the Portuguese sailing expedition is placed on the fountain.
 

In 2005, Macau's Senado Square was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List.

 

What to See at the the Senado Square

 Leal Senado Building

The Leal Senado Building was originally a Chinese-style building in history. It was the place where the Ming Dynasty announced orders and met with Portuguese officials. In 1784 (the 49th year of Emperor Qianlong's Reign), the Portuguese purchased the land and built a Portuguese-style Council Building, which became the Portuguese regional political center in Macao. All municipal affairs and even assemblies and ceremonies were held here. Since then, it had been rebuilt many times. It has a distinctive southern European style.
 

 Macau Holy House of Mercy

The Holy House of Mercy building has a neoclassical architectural style. It is the oldest charitable organization in Asia. It was founded in 1569 by the first master of Macau, Giani Lu, who was responsible for charitable relief. After its establishment, China's first Western-style hospital was opened.
 

 Macau Rose Hall

The church was built in 1587 by the Dominican Order, located in the center of Macau. The entire church building is magnificent, and the altar of the Baroque architectural style is even more elegant and refined. Macau's Our Lady of Fatima Procession is held by the church on May 13th, which is one of the important festivals of the Catholic Church. The church is open from 10:00 to 18:00, free to visit.

 

Transportation to the Senado Square

 By Bus

Take bus 2, 3, 3A, 3X, 5, 7, 10, 10A, 11, 18, 21A, 26A, 33 and get off at Almeida Ribeiro.

Take bus 33, 4, 6, 8A, 18A, 19, and get off at Almeida Ribeiro.
 

 By Taxi

Chinese: 请带我去议事亭前地。English: Please take me to Senado Square.

If you go to Senado Square from the Macau International Airport, it takes about 15 minutes(about 80 yuan).