Leal Senado

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  • Address
    163 Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, Central Macau Peninsula
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Facing Largo do Senado to the west is Macau's most important historical building, the 18th-century 'Loyal Senate', which now houses the Instituto para os Assuntos Cívicos e Municipais (IACM; Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau) and the mayor's office. It is so-named because the body sitting here refused to recognise Spain's sovereignty during the 60 years that it occupied Portugal.

In 1654, a dozen years after Portuguese sovereignty was re-established, King João IV ordered a heraldic inscription to be placed inside the senate's entrance hall, and this can still be seen today. To the right of the entrance hall is the IACM Gallery (988 4180; admission free; ; - Tue-Sun), which features changing exhibits. On the 1st floor is the Senate Library (2857 2233; admission free; ; - Mon-Sat), which has a collection of some 18,500 books, and wonderful carved wooden furnishings and panelled walls.