Attration Category

This article is about the building. For the organization known as the Leal Senado, see Municipal Council of Macau.


The Leal Senado Building (Portuguese for Loyal Senate) was the seat of Macau's government (Legislative Assembly of Macau and Municipal Council of Macau) during its time as a Portuguese colony. It is located at one end of the Senado Square. The title was bestowed on Macau's government in 1810 by Portugal's Prince-Regent Jo?o, who later became King John VI of Portugal. This was a reward for Macau's loyalty to Portugal during the Iberian Union, between 1580 and 1640.


The building itself was erected in 1784. After the handover of Macau to China in 1999 it became the headquarters of the Institute of Civic & Municipal Affairs (Portuguese: Instituto para os Assuntos Cívicos e Municipais).


It became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Centre of Macau in 2005.