Macau Museum

The Macau Museum chronicles the history of the territory of Macau in Santo Antonio, China, which was once a Portuguese colony. Starting from the sixteenth century with the arrival of the Portuguese and moving through to modern day, the Macau Museum offers a chronological and cultural account of Macau’s past and the effect this has had on its present.

History of Macau Museum

Macau has a history of 400 years of Portuguese colonial occupation. The Macau Museum, which is the largest museum in Macau, is therefore located in the famous and impressive Monte Fortress, complete with cannons on its battlements, which overlooks the Pearl River Delta and the South China Sea in the heart of the city and is where the Portuguese first set foot.

Planning for the museum by the government of Macau began in April 1995, with its construction beginning in September 1996 and its inauguration taking place on 18 April 1998.

The result is a 100-metre-square structure which is noted as being one of the key edifices of the centre of Macau’s UNESCO World Heritage status.

Macau Museum Today

There are three floors in total. The first floor displays relics of ancient and early history, with an emphasis on the mix of cultures and influences that once shaped Europe as well as the Ming and Qing Empires.

The second floor is devoted to religious changes and upheaval, and the third presents a selection of historic and contemporary art, as well as urban planning and architectural displays.

The exhibits give visitors an insight into local history through an extensive collection of text, audio, and video grams, physical displays of scaled boats, and old printing presses and carts. There are also reconstructions of local people enjoying traditional activities such as playing Mah-jong, eating together, and relaxing at home.

Entry to the museum is equivalent to less than $2 per person, and is cheaper for over-65s, so is well worth a visit.

Getting to Macau Museum

The museum is very accessible. Walking from Senado is recommended so you can enjoy the ruins of Senazo Plaza, the ruins of St. Paul, and a number of restaurants and tourist shops. From the Plaza itself, the Museum is a 400m walk.

There are public and private shuttle buses available to Senado. From the Macau Ferry Terminal, they suggest you can simply catch a free Grand Lisboa shuttle that will take you to the centre of Senado.

There is also a number of public buses – 3, 3A, 10, and 10A – from the Macau Ferry Terminal which go to Senado.