St. Lawrence's Church, Macau 聖老楞佐堂, 澳门
St Lawrence's Church (Igreja de São Lourenço) in Macau is an historic Catholic church in the city, originally founded by the Jesuits.
History
The church is one of the oldest surviving Catholic places of worship in Macau, originally founded by Jesuit missionaries before 1560 as a simple wooden chapel. Since then the building has undergone several reconstructions. The present building dates from the 19th century.
It was historically a place where families of Portuguese sailors prayed for safe voyages, earning it the local Chinese name Feng Shun Tang, meaning "Church of Smooth-sailing Wind."
The church's exterior has a neoclassical façade with soft pastel colours and twin towers that frame the entrance in European style.
Interior
The elegant interior has ornate, decorated pillars, a high wooden ceiling painted in turquoise with white and gold beams. There are also beautiful stained glass windows, and chandeliers illuminating the nave and altar.
Address & Information
Rua de São Lourenço, Macao.
Located on Rua de São Lourenço in the historic centre of Macau, the church is about a 10-15 minute walk southwest from Senado Square among other heritage sites such as the nearby Dom Pedro V Theatre, Macau Cathedral and St Joseph Seminary Church. It's usually open to visitors free of charge, with opening hours usually from morning to afternoon or early evening.
Visitors can also reach the church conveniently by bus: a number 9, 16, 18, or 28B stopping on Rua de São Lourenço) 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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