The wave paving
Black and white.
Diego Delso — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ondřej Žváček — CC BY 2.5 · Diego Delso — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Diego Delso — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Underwaterbuffalo — CC BY-SA 4.0
St. Augustine's Square is a small quiet square near Senado Square in Macau, within the Historic Centre on the World Heritage List. Important buildings surround it, including St. Augustine's Church, St. Joseph's Seminary, the Sir Robert Ho Tung Library and Dom Pedro V Theatre, making it one of the prettiest corners of the city. Spanish Augustinian friars set up here in 1586 according to most sources, and the Portuguese took over later. Accounts of the present church's date differ, between 1814 and 1874. The church is known for its Easter procession. The square joined UNESCO's list with the Historic Centre in 2005. The ground is paved with black and white Portuguese stone in wave patterns, with a small dark kiosk, shady trees and green planters at its centre. On one side stands a yellow church with green windows, and on another a big seminary building with green doors. A stairway climbs from here to the great arched gate of St. Joseph's Church. It is about 500 m on foot from Senado Square, through sloping streets. It is far quieter than the main square, so it suits a short sit-down. The paving can be slippery after rain, so watch your step. Respect the churches around it, and dress modestly if you enter them. Pictures work best in the early morning, before tour groups arrive.
Black and white.
Green windows.
A great arch above the stairs.
Largo de Santo Agostinho, Macau
Sir Robert Ho Tung LibrarySir Robert Ho Tung Library is a public library on St. Augustine's Square in Maca1 minute walk
Dom Pedro V TheatreDom Pedro V Theatre is a historic building on St. Augustine's Square in Macau an1 minute walk
St. Lawrence's ChurchSt. Lawrence's Church is one of the oldest churches in Macau, on Rua de São Lour3 minutes walk
Rua da FelicidadeRua da Felicidade, the «Street of Happiness», is an old pedestrian street in cen3 minutes walk
Senado SquareThe heart of old Macau, a triangular square of about 3,700 square metres named a3 minutes walkNo, about 500 m on foot.
Far less than Senado Square.