Senado Square (Largo do Senado) is a public square in Macau. It is located in the central area of the Macau Peninsula. Covering an area of 3,700 square meters (4,425 square yards), Senado Square is one of the four largest squares in Macau; others are Praça do Centro Cultural, Praça do Lago Sai Van and Praça do Tap Seac. In 2005 it was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List as it forms part of the Historic Centre of Macau.
The square is so named as since Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) it has been in front of the Leal Senado Building. During the era of Portuguese control, this is where the local authorities used to review the troops on their inaugurations. In 1940, there was a statue of a Portuguese soldier named Mesquita in its centre. He was responsible for the deaths of many Chinese soldiers during the hostilities with the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Understandably, the statue has been destroyed by Chinese people and replaced by a fountain; this is why the square is also called "the Fountain".
In the early 1990s, the authority hired some Portuguese experts to pave the square with a wave-patterned mosaic of colored stones. From then on this area has become a popular place for cultural activities in Macau. The buildings around the Senado Square have a long history and have many western features, so they have been well protected by the authority and no one is allowed to alter the facades of these buildings.
There are shopping centers and traditional Chinese restaurants around the square. Fashion clothes, famous snacks and the scenic environment make it a famous attraction. Firework displays, lion and dragon dances are usually held on special days such as the Chinese Spring Festival and Christmas.
Location: San Ma Lo Road
Transportation: Take the No. 3, 3A, 4, 8A, 10, 10A, 11, 18, 19, 21A, 26A, 33 buses to the Av. De Almeida Ribeiro (San Ma Lo).
Ticket: free
Opening hours: all day long