Macau Maritime Museum
The Macau Maritime Museum was opened in 1987. This place will be interesting for those who, from childhood, admired majestic ships, pirates and trips around the world. The dreams of adults and children can come true in Macau, where this famous maritime museum is located and is famous for its unique exhibits. Visitors say that time passes unnoticed here.
History
In 1553, the Portuguese decided to build the Macau Maritime Museum, which would personify the greatness of their maritime achievements. Construction of the facility lasted two years. At the beginning of the 20th century, the museum was expanded and reconstructed - it was remade in a European style. The Macau Maritime Museum covers an area of 800 square meters and is a unique building in the city, as it intertwines two different cultures of the maritime regions - the European maritime power and the Asian one. The maritime history of this region begins with local fishermen boatmen who were active in fishing and trading with other islands in the China Sea. But everything changed in the 16th century - from the moment the Portuguese colonialists arrived in these lands. After these events, trade relations began to occur between local traders and Europeans. The museum preserves trade items of those times - porcelain, pearls, plant crops and many other things of that time.
Architectural features
The Macau Maritime Museum is a three-story building that has the shape of a sailing ship. The building consists of several halls located on each floor. On the ground floor, the visitor is presented with exhibits depicting the life and culture of local fishermen - the fishermen's dwellings, their clothes and hunting and fishing tools, and most importantly - replicas of boats and ships. Also on the ground floor there is a miniature theater, which often hosts performances based on local fishing legends. Visitors can also purchase ship souvenirs, mini-copies of fishermen's boats, and copies of old maps of Macau on the ground floor of the Macau Maritime Museum.
The second floor of the museum will amaze any boat lover. There is a huge collection of replicas of ships from all over the world, and especially replicas of local fishing boats. A colorful collection of small Chinese boats, the junk is famous for its simplicity and convenience - flat bottom, sharp bow, small reed deck. All museum ships are unique and exact copies of their original versions.
The last floor of the building is entirely dedicated to new projects in the field of shipbuilding and shipping. On the floor there is a unique copy of China's first lighthouse, made by European architects. The visitor can also observe large aquariums with rare species of fish and other marine life. The Macau Maritime Museum is a unique and special place in the city. In addition to historical excursions, you can have a great time here, visiting on board the most famous ships around the world. The museum is recommended for visiting by every tourist arriving in the city of Macau.
