Dom Pedro V Theatre

Dom Pedro V Theatre

Dom Pedro V Theatre is commonly known as the Monte Theatre, and is also called the Ma Kou Theatre or the Monte Fort Tower. It is an old theatre located in the Monte Square of Macau and is China’s first Western-style theatre. In 2005, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Historic Centre of Macau.

The Dom Pedro V Theatre was funded and constructed in 1860 by the Macanese community to commemorate Portugal's King Dom Pedro V. Initially, only the main structure was built, and later in 1873, a portico, arcades, and a neoclassical triangular pediment were added to the front entrance. The Dom Pedro V Theatre is the only European-style theatre building in Macau, featuring a neoclassical style, predominantly green in color, accented with dark green doors and windows.

The Dom Pedro V Theatre stands 41.5 meters tall and 22 meters wide, with the roof ridge of its traditional Chinese pitched roof reaching 12 meters and the eaves at 7.5 meters. The main façade features a 15.7-meter-wide Roman arched portico, topped with a triangular pediment, beneath which are three arches supported by four sets of Ionic pilasters. Each of the eight pilasters is approximately 6 meters long, and the decorations on the pediment and columns are minimal. On the side facades, nine continuous 2.45-meter-wide Roman arched floor-to-ceiling windows enhance the horizontal lines of the roof and convey a robust sense of grandeur. Inside the Dom Pedro V Theatre are a performance hall, a ballroom, and a billiard room; there is also a reading room that houses ancient books in English, French, and Portuguese.

Dom Pedro V Theatre

Must-visit reason: Macau’s only European-style theatre building