Macau's cultural life is punctuated by a collection of fascinating museums highlighting the city's unique heritage.
The Museum of Macau was built within Monte Fort, known as Fortaleza do Monte in Portuguese, by the outgoing administration. Adjacent to the ruins of St Paul's Cathedral, the museum focuses on the city's history and has exhibits devoted to its formation, popular arts, traditions and modern life.
The Macau Maritime Museum explores the traditional lifestyles of the fishing communities of southern China and the maritime traditions of the Portuguese.
The museum is situated on the spot where it is believed Portuguese seafarers first set foot in Macau, along the city's inner harbour, in the 1550s.
Its displays depict the maritime accomplishments of Ming dynasty China and Portugal, and displays model ships, replicas of a Chinese fishing family's house and other exhibits.
The Macau Museum of Art features seven galleries across five floors and is located within the Cultural Centre of Macau along the city's outer harbour.
Its collections range from Chinese paintings and seals to ceramics, copperware, contemporary art and photography. Works by celebrated British painter George Chinnery (1774-1852), who is buried in Macau's leafy Protestant cemetery, are of particular interest. There are other Western-style paintings with themes related to the China trade.
