St. Dominic's Church, Macau 板樟堂, 澳门
St. Dominic's Church is a historic Baroque-style Catholic church located in the Historic Centre of Macau near Senado Square.
History
First built in 1587 by three Spanish Dominican priests who arrived from Acapulco, Mexico, it stands as one of the city's oldest and most significant religious landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The church has been the scene of a murder, a Spanish officer in 1644, and was also the place where Macau's first Portuguese-language newspaper (A Abelha da China) was published in 1822. The Treasure of Sacred Art Museum lies inside the bell tower of the church. It houses over 300 Catholic relics, including 17th-19th century wood/ivory statues, silver sacramental objects, and oil paintings.
There is a procession from the church held annually on May 13th.
Interior
Inside, three aisles lead to a richly decorated main altar with a statue of the Virgin and Child.
Address & Information
Largo de São Domingos, Macau.
Located in Largo de São Domingos in the historic centre of Macau, the church is close to Senado Square and other UNESCO heritage sites such as the Dom Pedro V Theatre, Macau Cathedral and St Lawrence's Church. It's usually open to visitors from 10 am to 6 pm.
Visitors can also reach the church conveniently by bus: a number 18 stops at Rua Dos Mercadores and more buses stop at Almeida Ribeiro (3, 4, 6A, 8A, 18A, 19 and 33) or on foot as part of a walking tour of Macau's UNESCO-listed historic district.
Macau Essentials
- For cheap flights to Macau check elong.com. A lot of budget airlines (Bangkok Airways, Jetstar Asia, AirAsia, Tiger Airways etc.) fly to Macau.
Macau International Airport has flights to a number of international destinations worldwide including Bangkok, Manila, Seoul and Taiwan and to many other Chinese cities including Beijing, Guangzhou, Guilin, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Shanghai, Shantou, Xianmen and Xian. - Trains - for non-fliers the best option is to take a train to Hong Kong from Beijing West Railway Station and then a ferry to Macau.
Tip: A cheap / fast way to get from Beijing to Macau is to fly from Beijing to Shenzhen and then take a coach to Hong Kong. The flight from Beijing to Shenzhen is considered domestic and therefore much cheaper compared with flying to Hong Kong direct. - Buses and taxis are the major modes of public transport in Macau. Pedicabs are also available for sightseeing. Macau drives on the right, like the rest of China, except Hong Kong.
- Visas: most passport holders of Western countries receive a free 30 or 90-day visa on arrival. To re-enter China requires a multiple entry Chinese visa, or a valid single/double entry visa.
Accommodation in Macau
Grand Lapa Hotel
For those looking for a comfortable and family friendly hotel, then a hidden gem is the Grand Lapa Hotel which is located directly next to Fisherman's Wharf and the Sands Hotel.
The hotel has undergone a transformation and has elegant interiors as well as some newly renovated hotel rooms. The hotel also has a modern spa, gym facilities and a swimming pool which has a water slide as as well as an outdoor Jacuzzi.
The Grand Lapa Hotel also offers a whole host of organised activities for children so parents can have a break. In terms of dining, visitors can try the Cafe Bela Vista, Naam Thai restaurant and Kam Lai Heen Chinese restaurant. The hotel's breakfast buffet is also very famous and worth sampling.
Address: Grand Lapa, 956 - 1110 Avenida Da Amizade, Macau
Wynn Palace Hotel
For those looking for more glitz and glamour in terms of accommodation then they can book accommodation at one of the most over the top hotels in Macau, namely the Wynn Palace. An incredible and vast structure, not only does the interior mimic the exterior in term of glamour and opulence, the hotel boasts an incredible water show and its own cable car system.
The hotel has a famed buffet and also boasts some international acclaimed restaurants such as Sichuan Moon, SW Steakhouse and Japanese specialities at Mizumi. If visitors love shopping then the Wynn Esplanade is a shopping mecca spread over 106,000 square metres.
Address: Avenida Da Nave Desportiva, Cotai, Macau
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