A Chinese-style Pavilion used to stand on the site of Leal Senado building. That building was then a meeting place for the Portuguese and the Chinese officials, and where the
Ming dynasty government would announce regulations to Macau. The Portuguese planned to buy the pavilion as early as 1583, as well as some Chinese houses behind it. However, it wasn't until 1784 that the Portuguese government finally purchased it at a price of 80,000
taels. The Leal Senado building itself was built after the purchase, and became the center of Macau's politics since then. Portuguese rallies and celebrations were also held here. Although built in 1784, it was in a style similar to
plain style from 14th- to 15th-century Portugal than the
Pombaline style that was popular at the time when the Leal Senado was built. A number of institutions were affiliated to the building, including a museum of
Luís Vaz de Camões, a post office, a court and a prison, yet all had moved elsewhere. It was completely refurbished in 1904. In 1936 the building was damaged again by another typhoon. After the
handover of Macau to
China in 1999 it became the headquarters of the
Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau. It became part of the
UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Centre of Macau in 2005. ==Features==