Thursday, January 26, 2017

Penha Hill and Macau Peninsula Walking Tour

Penha Peninsula Walking Tour

This is the Macau walking tour Where Portugal meets China. There is a lot to see on the peninsula that lies between the Praia Grande and the Inner Harbour, so we suggest you break your itinerary for a meal along the way.

Beginning from Largo do Senado, go by Rua Dr. Soares, the road that runs up the side of the Civic & Municipal Affairs Bureau, formerly the Leal Senado

leal senado building

Branch left on Calçada Tronco Velho and find yourself in St. Augustine Square or Largo S. Agostinho, with wave-patterned pavements and green lamplights.

St Augustine Square

On your left is St Augustine’s Church (established by the Augustinians in 1586, it enshrines the statue of Our Lord of Passion which is carried through the city at Lent via Stations of the Cross)

st augustine church macau

On your right are the headquarters of the Casa Ricci charity, the Sir Robert Ho Tung library and the entrance to the St Joseph Seminary.

ho tung library macau Opposite is the Dom Pedro V Theatre (the oldest European theatre in China, it opened in 1858 and is still very active)

ho tung library macau

Take the cobbled ramp beside the theatre down to Rua Central. Go right and follow the road as it becomes Rua de S. Lourenço. ho tung library macau

Be sure to visit the St. Lawrence Church (with an interesting altar and brilliant wooden ceiling)

joseph seminary church macau attraction After St. Lawrence Church proceed to the back of the church, down the street of Rua do Seminario to enter and ascent 54 stips to the Chapel of St. Joseph Seminary (built by the Jesuits, in ‘Latin Cross’ shape with a dome.)

ho tung library macau Retrace your steps to Rua Central and go down the narrow Travessa Padre Narciso to the Rua da Praia Grande. The splendid mansion on your left is Headquarters of the Macau SAR.

Turn right and stroll along the praia, looking across the road at the new suburb with man-made lakes containing the Macau Tower and Cybernetic Fountain.

ho tung library macau Pass a variety of restaurants, the century-old house that is now the Ricci School and a children’s playground with a pedal-car driving school.

Turn right, up the Calçada do Bom Parto, passing the home of the Portuguese consul (former Hotel Bela Vista) and Hotel Ritz (where you might want stop for a drink on the terrace)

Then head up Rua Boa Vista and turn left on Calçada da Penha to reach the Bishop’s Palace and Penha Chapel (only the chapel is open but the courtyard is a fine belvedere with panoramic views; the souvenir shops here are worth visiting)

Go down Estrada de D. João Paulino, passing Santa Sancha (like the old Government Palace, it was built by Macanese architect Thomaz de Aquino, and once the home of the governor) to the Avenida da República. Turn right and follow the old sea wall.

Rising from the bay to your left is the Gate of Understanding (a monument to Sino-Portuguese friendship).

ho tung library macau Turning the corner you’ll reach Pousada de São Tiago (a 17th century fort transformed into a Portuguese inn with period furniture and fine terrace for refreshments and views)

Continuing around Barra Point, pass the Naval Dockyards to arrive at A-Ma Temple (built in the Ming Dynasty with hillside prayer halls dedicated to the Goddess of Seafarers A-Ma, who inspired the name Macau)

macau chinese a-ma temple

Cross Largo do Pagode da Barra with its patterned pavement, to Pier Number 1 (the possible landfall of the first Fukienese and Portuguese settlers).

ho tung library macau

Here is located the Macau Maritime Museum (styled like a ship, with outstanding displays illustrating the relationship of Macau with the sea outdoor exhibits include a traditional of trading junk and pirate-chasing lorcha brigantine. Open 10am-5.30pm. Closed Tuesday)

By now you must be hungry and you’ll find some of Macau’s best Portuguese and Macanese restaurants on the nearby Rua do Almirante Sérgio take a bus or taxi back to town.