The Historic Centre of Macau walking (2)

Tomo&Chouchou's World Heritage walking route

Calçada do Tronco Velho [Chinese: 東方斜巷] → St Augustine's Square [Chinese: 崗頂前地] → Igreja e Seminário de São José [Chinese: 聖若瑟修道院小堂] → Sir Robert Ho Tung Library [Chinese: 何東圖書館] → St.Augustine's Church [Chinese: 聖奧斯定堂] → Dom Pedro V Theatre [Chinese: 尚頂劇院] →

 

St Augustine's Square [Chinese: 崗頂前地]

 

 

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Igreja e Seminário de São José [Chinese: 聖若瑟修道院小堂]

 

 

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Entrance of Sir Robert Ho Tung Library [Chinese: 何東圖書館]

 

 

Stairs in Sir Robert Ho Tung Library

 

 

Direction to the courtyard in the Sir Robert Ho Tung Library

 

 

Entrance & exit of Sir Robert Ho Tung Library

 

 

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St. Augustine's Church [Chinese: 聖奧斯定堂]

 

 

interior of St. Augustine's church

 

 

Jesus Christ in front of big marble altar

 

 

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Dom Pedro V Theatre [Chinese: 尚頂劇院]

 

 

Read back The Historic Centre of Macau walking (1) ← 

→ Read next The Historic Centre of Macau walking (3)

 

Episode of World Heritage walking in Macau

After walking up "Calçada do Tronco Velho [Chinese: 東方斜巷]" street, Tomo&Chouchou reached St. Augustine's square [Chinese: 崗頂前地]. There were bright buildings and Portuguese stone pavement. It was beautiful square with european taste. There were several european style buildings around the square. Firstly, we found the emerald-color building. It was Igreja e Seminário de São José [Chinese: 聖若瑟修道院小堂]. We thought it was St.Joseph's Seminary and Church [Chinese: 聖約瑟修道院及聖堂]. But it looked different. It looked prohibited to enter so we didn't enter. Next, we found the orange building. It was Sir Robert Ho Tung Library [Chinese: 何東圖書館]. It didn't look like a library from the entrance because of gorgeous appearance. We entered the library. There was the beautiful garden in the entrance. There was the corridor to go to the main building. We followed the corridor, then we found the long stairs on the left. The architecture was very modern and beautiful. The long stairs and the passage connecting two buildings attracted us a lot. There was the short stairs to go to the courtyard. The courtyard was also beautiful and relaxing. The library had calm and peaceful atmosphere. If we live in Macau, we would come to Sir Robert Ho Tung Library so often. We could be away from the noisy sound and crowds. When we go to the exit, we could take a nice shot of the entrance. The entrance looked different to see from the front and back. After enjoying the library, we went to St. Augustine's Church. It was the yellow church. The yellow wall and emerald ceilling was pretty. It had Portuguese taste. The statue of Jesus Christ was in front of the big marble altar. It was worth to see the main big altar. We could also find the statue of Maria in the church. We went out from the church, then we found the emerald building diagnally to the left. It was the Dom Pedro V Theatre. It was the theater with beautiful columns. There was big banyan tree in front of the theatre. We felt the energy from the banyan tree. We wanted to enter but it was unfortunately closed. We continued to walk on Rua de S. Lourenço [Chinese: 風順堂街] until St. Lawrence's Church.

Read back (1)

Continued to (3) ...

FYI, when we went to St. Augustine's Church, the statue of Christ was in front of the main altar. At that time, we thought it was normal. But while searching information about St. Augustine's Church for this blog, we found out it was not normal. Probably we suppose that the statue of Christ was prepared for the "Procession of Our Lord of Passos" event. 

Tomo&Chouchou's advice and impressions

St. Augustine's Square [Largo di Santo Agostinho] was must-visit place. Many attractive colonial buildings were gathered in this square. It was full of Portuguese atmosphere. We sometimes forgot that we were in Asia. St. Augustine's Square was accessible on foot from Senado Square. If you don't have enough time to look around all UNESCO world heritage sites in Macau, we recommend to visit St. Augustine's Square at least.

Information

The Historic Centre of Macau 

[Chinese: 澳門歷史城區] [Portuguese: O Centro Histórico de Macau]

It is the area of co-existance of Portuguese and Chinese cultures. It represents the history of colony of Portugal, and Special Administrative Region of People's Republic of China. The Historic Centre of Macau was designated UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. There are 30 sites such as ruins, temples, churches, square and son.

 

・St. Augustine's Square [Chinese: 崗頂前地][Portuguese: Largo di Santo Agostinho]

It is the beautiful Portuguese mosaic stone pavement (Calçada Portuguesa) square where is located next to Saint Augustine's Church.

・Sir Robert Ho Tung Library [Chinese: 何東圖書館][Portuguese: Biblioteca Sir Robert Ho Tung]

It was the villa of millionaire Robert Ho Tung. It became a public library by his will.

Free admission. Open hours: 8-20h (Mon. 14-20h).

Address: 3 Largo di Santo Agostinho [崗頂前地3號]

・St.Augustine's Church [Chinese: 聖奧斯定堂][Portuguese: Igreja de Santo Agostinho]

St.Augustine's Church was the first church for English Mass. It is famous for the event of carrying the Christ called "Procession of Our Lord of Passos". There is an big marble altar, statue of Jesus and Maria.

Free admission. Open hours: 10-18h.

Address: 2 Largo di Santo Agostinho [崗頂前地2號]

 

・Dom Pedro V Theatre [Chinese: 尚頂劇院 or 伯多祿五世劇院]

It is the first opera house in China. It's neo-classical architecture.

Free admission. Open hours: 10-18h. 

Closed on Tuesdays except national holidays.

Relating articles

- The Historic Centre of Macau walking (1) - Senado square etc.

- The Historic Centre of Macau walking (3) - St. Lawrence's Church

- The Historic Centre of Macau walking (4) - Mandarin's House etc.

- Hotel Lisboa Macau

Bordeaux, France

 

Tomo & Chouchou parked our car near the park "Jardin Public".

 

 

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We walked to the town square 

"Place des Quinconces".

 Monument aux Girondins

 

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Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux

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Bordeaux Cathedral 
"Cathédrale Saint-André de Bordeaux"

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the funny-designed courthouse "Palais de Justice".

 

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We went back to the car parking.

Episode of Bordeaux

Tomo&Chouchou went to Bordeaux by car. We parked our car near the park "Jardin Public", then we went to the town square "Place des Quinconces".
As soon as we approach there, we could find the shining white monument "Monument aux Girondins".
In the square, there are some shops to get some foods such as kebab, potato fries and sandwiches. We also saw antique market beside Place des Quinconces.

Next, we walked ahead to the Grand Théâtrede Bordeaux. As soon as we arrive there, we were impressed to see the beauty of the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux.
On the gland floor, there is an elegant cafe. Around the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux, there are very beautiful buildings, trams which run in front of the theatre, and fashionable shopping street. It looked very convenient and easy to live in Bordeaux.

After that, we went to Bordeaux Cathedral. Cathédrale Saint-André de Bordeaux is a typical Gothic cathedral in Southern France.

Lastly, we found the funny-designed courthouse "Palais de Justice".
For Tomo, the courthouse looked like a Japanese sweet "Takenoko no sato".
cf)Takenoko no sato is the Japanese sweet made with chocolates and cookies. The shape is bamboo shoot sprout.

We didn't have so much time to see around Bordeaux, so we saw only centre of Bordeaux. Bordeaux is a very big city and we got lost on the way to go to the centre and to go out from the city. Anyway we could see more beautiful row of French houses than one in Paris. Many people rode a bicycle on the street in Bordeaux. It's nice to have such an ecology mind! 

Bordeaux was very organized and beautiful city. We could experience a little bit of Bourgeois life in Bordeaux.

close sightseeing spot

* Dune du Pilat