Being the first European enclave in the Orient, Macau has several unique mixed style architectures listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The historical sites of Macau are divided into two areas. The European enclave of government buildings and churches clustered around the Ruins of St. Paul on a central hilltop, and the A-Ma Temple at the Chinese fishing port near the southwest tip of the peninsular.

The most famous historical site in Macau is the Ruins of St. Paul’s (São Paulo 大三巴). Built by the Jesuits in 1582-1602 on a hill top, this cathedral was the largest church in Asia. After its destruction by fire in 1835, only the façade remained. The façade has a mixture of Oriental and High Renaissance Mannerism styles, with carvings by Japanese Christians and local craftsmen during the 1620’s.

The 1488 A-Ma Temple 媽閣廟 honors the sea goddess Mazu (媽祖). The Portuguese mistook the Cantonese name of the temple “Maa Gok” and named their colony Macao.