Macau's Bela Vista

In the days when Macau's old Praia Grande was still an esplanade along the shore, the Bela Vista hotel was the place to stay. I had a favourite room there; top floor, southeast corner, and the view from the balcony still captured the flavour of the city that Macau's acclaimed artist, George Chinnery, had portrayed in his paintings more than a century earlier.  The original building, with its characteristic shady terraces and arches, was constructed around 1870, possibly by a wealthy trader. Masonry from the 17th century Bom Parto Fort may have been used in the foundations. When Macau reverted to Chinese administration in 1999, the Bela Vista became the official residence of the Portuguese Consul, which placed it effectively out of bounds to tourists.

Видео Macau's Bela Vista канала Peter Moss