7 Macau, eighteenth century: development was centered on two hills facing the two harbors; churches and fortresses occupy the high ground, and the main street winds to the right of the hills
Through the centuries, Macau was often described by contemporary travelers as a Mediterranean town in the foothills along Bahia Praia Grande facing the Outer Harbor (fig. 7). It is not difficult to see how the Portuguese chose the site. In general, Portuguese colonies and conquests of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries were identified from the sea. Among the desired qualities was a strategic position on an island or peninsula; this situation would support sea trade and defense and facilitate maritime communication with the Portuguese empire. Another valuable characteristic was one or more protected and easily defensible bays, with accessible sources of water and food and beaches for performing tasks related to ship maintenance, repair, refueling, and protection during winter and monsoon periods.
Finally, hilly terrain was an advantage. High ground was easily defensible with just a small garrison and also offered an inspiring location for religious buildings. It is interesting to note that the geography of Macau bears some resemblance to that of important cities in Portugal: Lisbon, Porto, and Coimbra are located in riverside hills with easy access to the sea. Macau was structured along a rua direita, a “right,” “straight,” or “direct” street that led to a central place or institutional building. Here, the rua direita led to the cathedral, then connected to the nearby Church of St. Dominic and then, farther north, to the imposing Jesuit St. Paul’s University College of Macau, the first Western university in Asia. The long boulevard was punctuated by plazas such as the Cathedral and Senate Squares.