Ten must-visit attractions in Macao
Senado Square: one of the four largest squares in Macao
Updated: Dec 19, 2019
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Senado Square
议事亭前地
Senado Square (Largo do Senado) is a public square in Macao. It is located in the central area of the Macao Peninsula.
In 2005 it was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List as it forms part of the Historic Center of Macao.
The square is so named as since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) it has been in front of the Leal Senado Building. During the era of Portuguese control this is where the local authorities used to review the troops on their inaugurations.
In 1940, there was a statue of a Portuguese soldier named Mesquita in its center. He was responsible for the deaths of many Chinese soldiers during the hostilities with the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Understandably, the statue has been destroyed by Chinese people and replaced by a fountain; this is why the square is also called "the Fountain".
In the early 1990s, the authority hired some Portuguese experts to pave the square with a wave-patterned mosaic of colored stones. From then on this area has been a popular place for cultural activities in Macao.
Firework displays and lion and dragon dances are usually held on special days such as the Chinese New Year and Christmas, drawing large crowds.
