Where to find echoes of Portugal in Macau

By John Krich, CNN
6 minute read
Updated 9:16 PM EST, Tue November 29, 2016
Macau was a Portuguese colony and overseas province under Portuguese administration from 1557 to 1999. Though traces of the European nation's presence remain in the form of architecture and cuisine, those looking for a deeper cultural imprint will need to do a bit of digging.
Largo do Senado —
Macau was a Portuguese colony and overseas province under Portuguese administration from 1557 to 1999. Though traces of the European nation's presence remain in the form of architecture and cuisine, those looking for a deeper cultural imprint will need to do a bit of digging.
AFP/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Built in the mid-1500s, Igreja de San Lazaro -- or St. Lazarus Church -- is one of Macau's oldest churches.
St. Lazarus Church —
Built in the mid-1500s, Igreja de San Lazaro -- or St. Lazarus Church -- is one of Macau's oldest churches.
Tibor Bognar/Corbis Documentary/Getty Images
Portugal's top snacks include bifanas (pork steak sandwiches) and pregos (the same with beef). For authentic Portuguese flavors in Macau, try Lusitanus, the main dining hall of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/casadeportugalmacau/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Casa de Portugal</a>.
Authentic eats —
Portugal's top snacks include bifanas (pork steak sandwiches) and pregos (the same with beef). For authentic Portuguese flavors in Macau, try Lusitanus, the main dining hall of the Casa de Portugal.
Creative Commons/Alberto González
Santa Casa de Mesiricordia, a former charitable home for old women with a 400-year-history, is now a popular local gathering place.
Santa Casa da Misericórdia —
Santa Casa de Mesiricordia, a former charitable home for old women with a 400-year-history, is now a popular local gathering place.
xPACIFICA/Corbis Documentary/Getty Images
This Macau bookstore is a stubbornly surviving outpost of Iberian language and culture. It stocks surrealist poetry by Fernando Pessoa, Portugal's reigning if reclusive literary giant. It also features photo books on Macau and academic works in English.
Livraria Portuguesa —
This Macau bookstore is a stubbornly surviving outpost of Iberian language and culture. It stocks surrealist poetry by Fernando Pessoa, Portugal's reigning if reclusive literary giant. It also features photo books on Macau and academic works in English.
Eduardo Martins/Livraria Portuguesa
Livraria Portuguesa is located on Rus de São Domingos, a five-minute walk from the popular Largo do Senado -- or Senate Square.
Rua de São Domingos —
Livraria Portuguesa is located on Rus de São Domingos, a five-minute walk from the popular Largo do Senado -- or Senate Square.
Eduardo Martins/Livraria Portuguesa
The Portuguese Bakery, located near Macau's port, sources its ingredients directly from Portugal.
The Portuguese Bakery —
The Portuguese Bakery, located near Macau's port, sources its ingredients directly from Portugal.
Courtesy Portuguese Bakery
Mercearia Portuguesa sells retro soaps in art deco wrappers, wooden mascots of Barcelos roosters and sardines and homemade fig jams from the Azores.
Mercearia Portuguesa —
Mercearia Portuguesa sells retro soaps in art deco wrappers, wooden mascots of Barcelos roosters and sardines and homemade fig jams from the Azores.
carmo correia
The centuries-old facade of what was originally the Cathedral of St. Paul is one of Macau's most famous landmarks.
Ruins of St. Paul's —
The centuries-old facade of what was originally the Cathedral of St. Paul is one of Macau's most famous landmarks.
PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images
Rickshaws in a street in the old quarter of Macau.
Circa 1950 —
Rickshaws in a street in the old quarter of Macau.
Three Lions/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Portugal's no longer the only European nation with a strong architectural presence in Macau. It's impossible to miss mega casino resort The Parisian's Eiffel Tower replica.
The Parisian —
Portugal's no longer the only European nation with a strong architectural presence in Macau. It's impossible to miss mega casino resort The Parisian's Eiffel Tower replica.
ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Macau is the only place in China with legalized casino gambling. But beneath the blazing golden towers of the Wynn, MGM and Lisboa Grande are many cultural delights.
Macau's casino strip —
Macau is the only place in China with legalized casino gambling. But beneath the blazing golden towers of the Wynn, MGM and Lisboa Grande are many cultural delights.
Chris McGrath/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
"Sun and sand, that's us," says Macau-based Portuguese architect Lilia Silva, who recommends Hac Sa Beach.
Hac Sa Beach —
"Sun and sand, that's us," says Macau-based Portuguese architect Lilia Silva, who recommends Hac Sa Beach.
Macau Government Tourist Office