From glitzy casinos and futuristic hotels to ancient temples and colonial-era villas, Macau’s East-meets-West architectural landscape is as rich as its past.
Today’s it’s known as “the Las Vegas of Asia.” But for 400-some years—all the way up until 1999, in fact—Macau was a Portuguese colony. Its port was a major stop on international silk and spice routes (and a destination for people from other Portuguese colonies and those fleeing persecution), which brought travelers from around the globe to its shores. The centuries-long influx influenced every aspect of Macanese culture, diversifying the language, food, and architecture.
Visit Macau to see the captivating range of architectural eras and styles firsthand. There are 22 buildings that comprise the UNESCO heritage site, The Historic Centre of Macau, including a colonial-era Portuguese lighthouse, the ruins of a Catholic cathedral perched next to a Chinese temple, and colonial-era neoclassical buildings in pastel yellows, pinks, blues, and greens. On the contemporary end of the spectrum, there’s the glittering skyline of garish mega-casinos, a new bridge to Hong Kong that’s the longest sea bridge in the world, and a jaw-dropping luxury hotel that’s held up by an avant-garde exoskeleton.
Macau’s diverse cityscape of architectural marvels showcases a confluence of cultures that could only exist here.
