Museum of Macau, Heritage museum in Santo António, Macau.

The Museum of Macau occupies the interior of the Fortaleza do Monte, on the hill of Santo António. Designed by the Portuguese architect José Marques, it opened on 18 April 1998. Its 2,800 m² are arranged over three levels: the first two lie beneath the fortress terrace and the third sits on it. The long grey stone building carries the lettering "MUSEU DE MACAU" on its crenellated parapet, above a row of tall arched windows.

Planning for the museum began in April 1995, and construction started in September 1996 after the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau moved from the fortress to Taipa. The building, designed by Portuguese architect José Manuel Fernandes, cost 120 million patacas and opened on 18 April 1998, inaugurated by Portuguese Prime Minister António Guterres.

The museum opened on 18 April 1998, the date chosen to mark the handover period, and its first-floor hall is devoted to Macau's return to China on 20 December 1999. Exhibits cover the territory's history and folk customs, from the Portuguese colonial period to the present special administrative region.

The museum is open daily except Mondays and can be reached on foot from the old town, though the climb to the fortress takes some effort. Wearing comfortable shoes helps when navigating the stairs and pathways.

From the fortress viewpoints you can see across the entire city while exploring the exhibitions inside. This creates a special experience where history and the present-day view of the city come together.