Largo Senado and Sao Paulo
Macau’s main square, Largo do Senado is a slice of the Mediterranean. Cobblestone streets and beautiful colonial buildings line the square, giving it a lazy, laidback charm.
The buildings that were once the source of Portuguese power have been wonderfully preserved, most, including the former senate and the oldest western library in Asia, are in near pristine condition. Today, the square is a prime people-watching spot as hundreds of people soak up the sun in these picturesque surroundings. Bafflingly, there are almost no cafes on the square, although Starbucks has managed to find a good spot.
Just up the road, are the ruins of the Sao Paulo Cathedral. All that remains of the cathedral is an ornately impressive façade, the rest of the cathedral burnt down during a kitchen-mishap in the 1800’s. Despite this, the building remains a powerful statement of the power the Portuguese once wielded in Asia, and is as impressive as the cathedrals of Europe’s old capitals.
For a bite to eat, make your way back down to the main square, or the streets that surround it, and try one of the many Dai Pai Dongs, small stalls with plastic seating that offer Chinese snacks that are low on price, but high in quality.
