| Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro | |||||||||||
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 The street sign of Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro | |||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 亞美打利庇盧大馬路 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 亚美打利庇卢大马路 | ||||||||||
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| Alternative Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 新馬路 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 新马路 | ||||||||||
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| Portuguese name | |||||||||||
| Portuguese | Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro | ||||||||||
Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro (Chinese:亞美打利庇盧大馬路), also commonly known asSan Ma Lou (Chinese:新馬路; "new road"), is the main avenue in the heart ofMacau Peninsula. The 620 metres long avenue was laid out in 1920 and it extends from the Inner to the Outer harbour, passing through the old residential area with its rows of colourful street shops.
The avenue used to be a small, winding alley. It was not until 1918 that buildings and hills alongside was being altered or demolished for the construction of the avenue. Then being the newest road in the city the widespreadSan Ma Lou[1][2] name was given by locals, literally "New Road".
The main shopping belt is marked by the streets ofAvenida do Infante Dom Henrique [zh] (殷皇子大馬路) and Avenida Almeida Ribeiro,São Domingos Market,Rua da Palha,Rua do Campo [zh] (水坑尾街), andRua Pedro Nolasco da Silva [zh]. Nearby, on the lanes around theRua das Estalagens, is a localflea market, a popular spot to look for Chineseantiques.
FromLargo do Senado heading towards the Inner Harbour along the Avenida Almeida Ribeiro, a cluster of jewellery or gold shops can be easily found. Also,antique shops can be seen nearSt. Paul's, along Avenida Almeida Ribeiro, onTravessa do Pagode and opposite theKun Lam Temple.Liquors,tobacco,Portuguese wine are largely found in many shops on Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro.
Gambling used to flourish along the avenue but most were relocated to newer, less urbanized regions likeCotai since the 1990s.
Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro hosts a mix of European and Chinese styled buildings along its length, most dated back to the 1920s. Historic landmarks situated there includeLargo do Senado,Leal Senado Building, Macau General Post Office andHotel Central.
