Liceu Dr. Francisco Machado, Educational colonial building in Colmera, East Timor.
Liceu Dr. Francisco Machado is a school building in Colmera featuring neoclassical design with whitewashed exterior walls and large window openings. A grand staircase with Corinthian pillars marks the main entrance, giving the front its formal appearance.
The building was constructed between 1922 and 1924 as a municipal school for Dili and became an important educational center over time. War damage required restoration work in the 1950s and again in 2001 to maintain the structure.
The building shows Portuguese colonial design mixed with influences from Goa and Macau that visitors can notice in its details and spaces. These styles came together because of trade and cultural connections across the Portuguese empire.
The Faculty of Education, Arts and Humanities of the National University of East Timor operates from this location, making it active during term time. The site sits one block from the National Parliament building and is easily accessible on foot.
The building educated Nicolau dos Reis Lobato, who later became the first Prime Minister of East Timor, making it a formative place for the nation's leadership. This connection reflects the role schools played in shaping the country's early political figures.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
