Macau Maritime Museum

The Maritime Museum stands on Barra Square directly opposite the A-Ma temple, on the spot where Portuguese sailors are traditionally said to have first landed, and it covers the fishing communities of the Pearl River delta, the trade routes that made Macao, the great voyages of exploration and the technology of navigation, with boat models, a dragon boat and reconstructed vessels moored outside. Boats moored at the quay outside are used for short harbour trips when they are running, and the museum also keeps a working model of the fishing techniques used in the delta before motorisation.

History

The museum was proposed in 1986 and first opened in 1987, and for lack of space a new building opened on 24 June 1990, the old one becoming its offices (Wikipedia, Maritime Museum (Macau)).

The main sights

• The fishing exhibits - the Pearl River delta communities and their craft.
• The trade galleries - the routes and cargoes that built the port.
• The boat models - junks, lorchas and the vessels of the delta.
• The Barra Square setting - the site traditionally identified with the first Portuguese landing.

When to go

October to December is dry and cool. The museum closes Tuesdays. An hour or two covers it.

What to expect

It closes on Tuesdays. Some displays are dated. The moored vessels outside are not always accessible.

Nearby

A-Ma Temple is opposite, and the Moorish Barracks are north.

Key facts