Things to Do in Macau Sar

Just as visitors to Las Vegas pay big money to watch “The Blue Man Group” or “Cirque du Soleil,” so too do visitors to Macau cram themselves into the City of Dreams casino for an evening showing of the “The House of Dancing Water.” Unabashedly referring to itself as one of the greatest shows on Earth, after producers and investors poured over $250 million into the creation of the show the end result is a performance which obliterates any live performance or sensory experience you’ve ever experienced. Handcrafted and created by Franco Dragone, a veteran Las Vegas show maker during the 1990s, the House of Dancing Water has sculpted a storyline and series of effects specifically designed to be infectious and engaging for mainland Chinese visitors and foreign guests alike.

While the holograms, special effects and state of the art sound and lighting are empowering components to the show, one of the most striking inclusions is the integration of a 3.7 million gallon swimming pool into the overall stage. The equivalent of five Olympic swimming pools, the aquatic element of the show is fused with aerial stunts, acrobatics and classic elements of theater which sculpt a love story ranking as arguably the best overall show in Macau. Despite the high price of admission and the fact that it’s performed inside of a casino, the House of Dancing Water is nevertheless a family-friendly event where kids and adults alike are entranced by the shimmering lights and the jaw-dropping stunts which literally take place by the minute.

In few places throughout Macau are the colonial influences of European rule more evident than at the historic Church of St. Dominic. Set at the back of a lively square this Baroque style church is instantly recognizable by its pastel-yellow and cream-colored façade. It's more picturesque on the outside than lively on the inside, and in an artistic touch the front of the church features green shuttered windows which symmetrically flank the three-story bell tower.

Built in 1587 by three Dominican priests from Acapulco, Mexico, the original chapel was ultimately destroyed and replaced in the 17th century with the building which stands today. Notable for being the first place to print a Portuguese language newspaper on Chinese soil (A Abelha da China: The China Bee), the Church of St. Dominic is better known for a violent and tumultuous past.

In what was perhaps the most notorious event, a military officer in 1644 who supported the Spanish against Portugal was murdered at the altar of the church during a regular Mass. Similarly, in 1707, upon receiving orders calling for their excommunication, an order of Dominicans locked themselves inside of the church and bombarded soldiers with a hailstorm of stones during a three-day standoff.

With the occasional violence having subsided long ago, the church now houses a collection of paintings and religious artifacts which date to the 16th century and are collectively known as the "Treasury of Sacred Art." A functioning place of worship for Macau's sizeable Christian population, the Church of St. Dominic is included as one of the buildings listed as part of the UNESCO recognized Historic Centre of Macau.

When the Casino Lisboa first opened in 1970 it set the stage for the gambling legacy which continues to power Macau's economy to this day. With the original 12"“story building was spearheaded by real estate magnate and entrepreneur Stanley Ho, the 2006 addition of the Grand Lisboa brings the total number of rooms in the Lisboa complex to a staggering 2,362 rooms. Located in the Central Business District of Macau, the Casino Lisboa is the iconic, "original" casino of Macau which came to prominence prior to the recent explosion of neighboring casinos built on the reclaimed land of the Cotai Strip.

Despite frequent renovation, the Casino Lisboa manages to retain its welcoming charm and avoids the ostentatious display some of the newer casinos thrust at their deep-pocketed, starry-eyed visitors. With the newly designed Grand Lisboa crafted around the style of a towering lotus leaf, the casino deftly manages to incorporate elements of both Portuguese as well as Chinese features into its design. In addition to the myriad gaming opportunities available within the complex, the Casino Lisboa similarly features award-winning restaurants, a fitness room and salon, and even a swimming pool where gamers can cool off before turning up the heat at the baccarat table or the casino's infamous Cabaret show.

One of the most recognizable, dramatic, and popular icons of the city of Macau are the Ruins of St Paul's Cathedral. Originally constructed in 1580 by Jesuit priests, the church was twice ravaged by fire in 1595 and 1601. Not to be deterred by the loss, construction resumed in 1602 and ultimately grew into what would be the largest Christian church on the entire Asian continent. As fate would have it, however, disaster met the church once again in 1835 when fire ripped through the soaring cathedral for the third and final time.

Devastated by the blaze all that remains of the Church of St Paul are the 66 stone steps which ascend a steep hill and the intricately carved five-tier façade for which the ruin is now so famous. Carved from granite which was able to withstand the fire, the façade features a panorama of carvings which fuse traditional European Renaissance and Oriental artistic styles. The façade was carved by Japanese Christians escaping religious persecution and was constructed in a classically Baroque style. Images found on the façade include traditional Jesuit scenes from the Bible to Portuguese sailing vessels with billowing sails. The stone lions which flank the third and fourth tiers are representative of the Chinese influence in the construction and design of St. Paul’s.

Behind the façade now sits St Paul’s Museum as well as remnants of the original city walls. Dating to 1569 the naturally formed barriers are formed from a blend of clay, soil, sand, glutinous rice, crushed rocks and small bits of oyster shells.

While viewing the façade from beneath the ruin is reason enough to pay a visit to St Paul’s, many visitors opt to ascend the steel staircase which runs behind the soaring structure. Already perched on a hill overlooking the city, steel staircase allows visitors to peer out the windows of the second-tier for a framed view of the city of Macau which is unlike any other. Be sure to bring a coin to toss into the second-tier window from the staircase—a classic Macanese tradition for bringing good fortune.